PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case regarding service connection for fevers and a new VA examination for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety. The case will be returned to the Board after completion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and TDIU was granted with effective dates of July 30, 2003.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and ensuring proper authorization for VA to obtain these records. The issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to reconcile conflicting psychiatric diagnoses and determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he passed away during its pendency.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids warrant a noncompensable evaluation prior to August 13, 2012 and a 10 percent evaluation from that date forward.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD, higher ratings for PTSD and head injury residuals, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to any of these benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent, and the Board increased it to 70 percent. The appeal is granted for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with dysthymic disorder is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation, and thus denied an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, specifically his presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The examiner must also provide an opinion on whether PTSD aggravates the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the period from April 1, 1969 to May 19, 1997. A TDIU is granted prior to May 8, 2003.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is service connected as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The left iliac crest bone graft has been rated at 10% since October 20, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits information and verifying the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence shows a link between his in-service stressor and current PTSD symptoms, thus granting service connection for PTSD. Service connection is denied for all other psychiatric disorders as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD substantially or materially contributed to his death from uncontrolled diabetes.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.