PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development needed, including a VA PTSD examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD and alcohol abuse have not met the criteria for a disability rating higher than 50 percent since May 6, 2002.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for an enlarged heart as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision. The claim of reopening service connection for hypertension (as secondary to PTSD) is granted, and the matter may be remanded for further development. Service connection for diabetes mellitus remains denied.

The Veteran's service records do not show any diagnosed psychiatric conditions during his active duty. The Board found that the evidence does not demonstrate a link between his in-service stressor and current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has granted initial noncompensable evaluations for the service-connected headaches and PTSD, but denied an increased evaluation for TBI residuals. The right ankle disorder claim is not supported by evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to June 13, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 27, 2014 is rated at 30 percent; since then, it has been rated at 70 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, and frostbite residuals were granted. The rating assigned is 30%.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying claimed stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, will be evaluated in light of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's request for a hearing has been scheduled, but the RO needs to clarify whether he is still incarcerated and if so, when he will be released. The case should then be returned to the Board after any necessary action regarding scheduling a hearing.

Service connection for PTSD is granted based on a traumatic parachute landing during military service.,Service connection for the right arm disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosed condition or persistent symptoms related to active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether he meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance, acquiring specially adapted housing, or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for PTSD was denied. The propriety of reducing his prostate cancer rating from 100% to 10% effective May 1, 2010 is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, GAD, OCD, bipolar disorder NOS, and schizoaffective disorder, are found to have had their onset during ACDUTRA service and have recurred since then.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The TDIU claim will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, that is etiologically related to active service and a psychosis was not present within one year of separation from active service. The Veteran also does not have additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the purpose of obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.