PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The issue of service connection for interstitial lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma related to asbestos exposure is also pending.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD. The VA examiner will need to provide a more detailed opinion regarding the relationship between any current psychiatric disabilities and service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, effective November 6, 2009. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and diabetes mellitus type 2) prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's overpayment of $10,134.60 in VA pension benefits was found to be not against equity and good conscience due to his misunderstanding regarding income reporting requirements.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 2009, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, including verifying in-service stressors and obtaining VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA clinical records and scheduling new examinations to assess her lower back strain and PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new examination. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, major depression, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, a heart condition, sarcoidosis, and a back disability have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 23, 2009, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that since the September 2007 rating decision denying his initial claim, he did not file a timely substantive appeal and therefore the effective date is no earlier than the date of receipt of his post-September 2007 claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current complaints of these conditions are considered part of his ongoing treatment history.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease are service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is also service-connected based on the presumption of service connection for conditions related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD and an addendum medical opinion regarding his tinnitus. The claims will be reviewed again after the requested actions are completed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, verifying service dates and stressor events, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD with major depression disorder and alcohol dependence in full remission on March 28, 2011. The effective date of this grant is September 17, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and considering newly submitted evidence.