PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal involves his bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary, including obtaining updated VA examinations for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with dementia of Alzheimer's type and associated conditions such as a lumbar compression fracture and seizure disorder, render him in need of higher special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his inability to care for himself.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective June 1, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms of PTSD have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues include increased ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right hip disorder, and sleep apnea; service connection for a right hip disorder secondary to lumbar spine or radiculopathy disabilities; and TDIU prior to August 27, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are found to be related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions. The appeal regarding headaches is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease, and PTSD have been denied. The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service stressor, and the Board finds that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been met.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed, but the VA examiner found no direct link between his service-connected PTSD and cause of death. The hypertension was also not linked to PTSD.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease has been granted service connection based on exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The issue of an increased rating for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating due to service-connected PTSD as of September 12, 2006. Prior to this date, no other disabilities were service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation folder and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his knee disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be remanded pending adjudication of these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were evaluated, but the claims for higher ratings were denied as there was no evidence of impairment warranting a higher rating under VA's criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are related to his military service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to reconcile previous psychiatric diagnoses and determine if service connection is warranted for PTSD and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was received on November 16, 2009. The effective date of the increased rating to 100 percent is set as of that date.,An earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD prior to March 29, 1995 is not warranted due to the lack of established in-service stressors and finality of a previous denial.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since September 30, 2010. The appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as the Veteran now receives a 100% rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 1, 2007. The evidence does not show that the disability warrants a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to issues related to service connection and TDIU. The claims will be reconsidered after the requested information is obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims are now resolved in his favor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.