PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities reasonably result in his requiring assistance with a number of his activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and food preparation, and he requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance are met.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination for psychiatric disability. The issues of TDIU and upper back, low back, heart disease, and hypertension are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims, including consideration of TDIU.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, related to his service. The Veteran also needs a determination on whether any preexisting psychiatric condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and for a VA examination. The claims of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, hepatitis C, and psychiatric disorder are all pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment and personnel records, addressing the appellant's contentions of an in-service assault leading to PTSD, and considering his entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. This includes obtaining records of any NIS investigations related to military sexual trauma incidents in service, as well as seeking private treatment records from Dr. S. and other providers.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional records, as his PTSD symptoms have worsened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD results in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100% evaluation.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he contends is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities of diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and/or coronary artery disease. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a higher initial rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, and mood due to symptoms including recurrent Vietnam-related intrusive thoughts in the form of nightmares and flashbacks; hypervigilance; suicidal thoughts; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances; and impaired impulse control. The Board finds that for the entire rating period PTSD has been productive of occasional suicidal ideation, sleep disturbance with nightmares, anxiety, suspiciousness, difficulty concentrating, impaired impulse control, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances resulting in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his service and fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, hypervigilance, social avoidance, irritability, and occasional flashbacks. The Board finds that the symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher 50 percent rating under DC 9411.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from April 16, 2004 to May 10, 2011, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.