PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD has been withdrawn by the representative.

The Veteran's death was caused by gastric cancer, which may be related to service exposure. The appellant seeks recognition of her son as a helpless child and pension benefits due to the Veteran's death. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions and SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder) is being reopened, and the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The case is REMANDED due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and his current psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is shown to have been productive of a disability picture manifested by moderate disablement and more nearly approximates that of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity resulting in difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships for the initial period of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 1, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective November 24, 2003. The Board has also granted a TDIU since August 2005.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling from October 19, 2007 to March 3, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with a 50% disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and his dysthymia with comorbid PTSD symptoms are currently rated at 30 percent. The appeal for higher evaluations has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to her in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a psychiatrist regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their relationship to his military service and death. The claims of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and burial allowance are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.

The VA determined that the Veteran's mental disorders, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, were not incurred in service. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing condition and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied the remaining issues of service connection. The Veteran is now service connected for a mood disorder, but not for chloracne, psoriasis, IBS, hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, or residuals of frostbite.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) has been characterized by some difficulty in maintaining social relationships, nightmares and insomnia; obsessional rituals, impaired impulse control, near continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, spatial disorientation, illogical or obscure speech, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The Veteran is currently assigned a 50 percent rating for PTSD since May 12, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues related to scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned for compliance with previous directives and further development as necessary.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation from June 29, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking it to active duty or in-service personal assaults. The VA examiner concluded there was no diagnosis of PTSD based on a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a new VA examination for the claim of service connection for a back disability. The claim of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is also being remanded.