PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for an anxiety disorder with depression claimed as PTSD is April 1, 2008. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as the withdrawal of his initial claim occurred on March 1, 2011. The appropriate effective date is therefore March 9, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to May 10, 2007. The Board has now granted a 70 percent rating for the period from May 10, 2007 to July 2, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a 100% disability rating effective March 30, 2007. The appellant is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits as he turned 26 years old on July 25, 2002 and the Veteran's disability occurred after that age.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's alleged stressor event in service and to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding his psychiatric disability. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss in the left ear, but not in the right ear. The Veteran's lower back strain and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's death was ruled accidental and the service-connected PTSD substantially contributed to his death. The Board has granted entitlement to service-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's VA disability compensation for the period from November [redacted], 2004 through April [redacted], 2005 was not terminated due to him being a fugitive felon, and an overpayment of service-connected VA compensation benefits in the amount of $13,275.79 was not properly created.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating for PTSD, which was initially assigned a 10 percent rating in February 2007. The Veteran now seeks higher ratings and also wishes to establish TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and an evaluation of his TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's PTSD with panic disorder without agoraphobia has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 100 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders and pulmonary disorder are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that a service-connected disability substantially contributed to the Veteran's death, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and consideration of his claims for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to the lapse in time since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was granted, effective October 30, 2010. The effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is March 24, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of all evidence since January 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent evaluation, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board also granted TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for bilateral foot pes cavus, bilateral foot calcaneal spur, left foot plantar fasciitis, and PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% from September 1, 2012.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD, currently rated at 50 percent. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for another VA psychiatric examination.