PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to address the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The case will be re-adjudicated after a formal character of discharge determination regarding his last period of active service from September 1985 to August 1990.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from a 1975 hospitalization.

The Veteran's PTSD and dysthymia were rated at 70 percent effective September 19, 1996. The rating was increased to 100 percent effective February 2, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, are related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether his service-connected disabilities have aggravated any nonservice-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's unemployability is due to his service-connected PTSD and loss of peripheral vision in the left eye, which precludes him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need to consider whether his more broadly characterized psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, may be causally associated with service. Additional records are needed from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regarding his work-related psychiatric treatment and evaluation, as well as verification of alleged in-service stressor events.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD has been rated at a 50 percent disability rating since November 16, 1994. This reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depression, anger, avoidance, isolation, and difficulty in establishing effective relationships.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify his claimed stressors, provide another examination, and consider the updated version of VA regulations.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since September 15, 2009. The rating is based on the criteria for a higher evaluation of the original award.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a sleep disorder) are denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during his period of creditable active military service or otherwise related to such service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and concluded that his psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The spinal stenosis and spondylosis were also denied as there was insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's claim for increases in PTSD ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The Board found that the September 2003 denial of service connection was final, and there was no new or material evidence received within one year to reopen the claim prior to December 4, 2007.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is causally related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental disorder, as defined by the DSM-IV. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depression without psychotic features, requires further development due to inconsistencies in diagnoses.