PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been evaluated at a 70 percent rating since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional mental health records and a new examination by a VA psychiatrist to determine if PTSD can be diagnosed, as well as whether any other disability may be related to military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations to determine the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including whether they are related to his service.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for an earlier effective date for a grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, warranting an initial evaluation of 70 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's condition has not worsened to the extent that he has sustained a substantial loss of independence, and other changes in his circumstances have not caused a substantial loss of independence. The VR&E Service determined that no independent living needs had been identified.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of anxiety disorder NOS. The Veteran's previous diagnoses of PTSD are considered outdated and not relevant to current claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and hearing, including addressing the issue of a higher initial rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's death was attributed to metastatic renal cell carcinoma, with significant contributing conditions being heart failure and PTSD. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to ischemic heart disease, which she alleges should have been service-connected based on exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot and shoulder conditions, which prevent him from standing for long periods of time.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 27, 2009. The VA examiner found the Veteran to have occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD disability is already fully encompassed by the current schedular rating of 70 percent, and an extraschedular evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder, finding that his current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's delimiting date for educational assistance benefits has been extended by the Board, allowing her to use these benefits for an additional ten years from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development related to corroborating the Veteran's reported stressors, specifically the deaths of four servicemen identified by the Veteran in an August 2004 statement as PFC Hunt, PFC Sey, PFC Grozer, and PFC Steele. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board found no nexus between any of the Appellant's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders and his ACDUTRA service, thus denying service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury was withdrawn by the appellant. The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records from Jesse Brown Medical Center. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered based on the updated evidence.