PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess whether the Veteran meets the DSM criteria for PTSD and if he has any other acquired psychiatric disability related to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are linked to in-service stressors, including near capsizing of his ship and loss of power while aboard ship. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating, effective from the date of his claim. The appeal for service connection for asthma was reopened but denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's death was caused by a motor vehicle accident resulting from his willful misconduct of driving under the influence of alcohol, which occurred after he went out drinking alone without an alternative way to get home. The Board found that this act constituted willful misconduct and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 7, 2005 and increased to 100 percent from March 4, 2008, May 1, 2008, and March 8, 2016. The Board granted the claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no verified in-service stressor event and the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder have been rated at 50 percent, effective April 26, 2010.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and posttraumatic stress disorder are granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand. The Board finds that the Veteran served near the perimeter of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, triggering the presumption of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD with depression and alcohol dependence in remission is related to his combat service in the Republic of Vietnam, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was previously denied in 1995, but new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim. However, there is no objective evidence supporting a sexual assault during military service and the current diagnosis of PTSD does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in March 1987, and he did not submit a substantive appeal. He later requested to reopen his previously denied claim on June 28, 2011, but the Board found no CUE in the original decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for the period prior to September 25, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disability and bilateral knee disability, as well as his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran was found to not have current disabilities that would warrant these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since November 18, 2005. The effective date for the increased rating of PTSD remains unclear due to pending development. Other issues remain on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted and rated at 10 percent prior to July 21, 2014. As of that date, the rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and clarification of the Veteran's claim.