PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his PTSD and determine whether his hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be deferred pending the adjudication of the other two issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the Veteran's reported stressors in service, as well as his current psychiatric disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further examination and review of his records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and a heart disability to include ischemic heart disease were denied. Service connection was granted for hypertension but not for the other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleeping problems, was denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current mental health disorder related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine and assigned a temporary 100% evaluation based on hospitalization and convalescence for brain tumor removal surgery.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and did not reopen the claim of high blood pressure as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 5, 2009. The Board found that the evidence supports a higher rating of at least 70 percent for PTSD but denied a 100 percent rating due to insufficient evidence. The issue of TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, will be reconsidered.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's schizophrenia is not service-connected, but his PTSD claim remains pending and needs further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining employment records from the USPS and arranging for an audiological examination to assess his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of $1,767 was improperly created and thus not valid. The Veteran's appeal is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma, and the Board finds service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective December 13, 2001. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied as no communication prior to December 13, 2001 can be interpreted as a formal or informal claim for PTSD. For the entire period on appeal, the criteria for a rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD have not been met. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as panic attacks, impaired speech, impaired judgment, or difficulty maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, with PTSD features and alcohol abuse, is rated at 50 percent since August 5, 2008.

The Veteran's neck disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. For TDIU, the Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements as his combined disability rating is less than 70%.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total impairment. The current rating of 70% is maintained.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hand tremors and PTSD, but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (to include GAD and MDD). The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is considered a progression of her anxiety disorder.