PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA medical center records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, effective from September 9, 2011. The Board found that his symptoms approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating but granted only the current 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 18, 1980 for the award of service connection for PTSD based on new evidence received after the original claim was denied in January 1981.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his disability is so severe as to render him totally disabled both occupationally and socially.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 24, 2012. Prior to that date, the rating was granted but not in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in or within one year of service discharge, and therefore cannot be presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied as there is no direct evidence linking the current diagnosis of hypertension to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for an opinion on aggravation of psychiatric disorders by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred during his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms since May 14, 2009, warranted a 70 percent rating due to significant impairment in most areas such as work and social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD, bilateral knee strain with arthritis, and lumbar strain.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, but not total. The current 50 percent rating is inadequate to reflect the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood (including complaints of insomnia) was granted, and an effective date of April 5, 2010 was assigned. The Veteran also received a separate 20 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability secondary to left leg length discrepancy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and corroborating the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The case is therefore REMANDED for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and arranging a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for left knee, left ankle, and left thigh disabilities. The claim of PTSD was reopened based on new evidence showing a diagnosis of PTSD related to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the diagnosis and etiology of his psychiatric disorders. The case will be reviewed again after additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD was caused by active military service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for PTSD.