PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination for his right knee disability. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for a right knee disability are pending.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least 10 years immediately preceding death. However, the evidence does not show that he met the requirements of a total disability rating of the required duration at the time of his death.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as his current diagnosis of PTSD relates back to his time in service in Iraq.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is found to be related to his combat experiences in Vietnam. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify stressors, conduct examinations, and determine appropriate ratings.

The Veteran's initial claim for PTSD was granted, and he is currently receiving a 30 percent rating retroactively effective from February 28, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is granted. However, further development is required to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of symptoms resulting in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's psychological disabilities, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, have been characterized by significant occupational and social impairment warranting a higher initial rating of 70 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a rating of 30 percent for headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with his in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to October 31, 2007, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of no more than definite impairment in the ability to establish or maintain effective or wholesome relationships with people, and the psychoneurotic symptoms result in such reduction in initiative, flexibility, efficiency, and reliability levels as to produce considerable social impairment. The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's PTSD is productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, and recent events).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging a new VA psychiatric examination. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that his claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of service-connected hearing loss disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in March 2012. The issues of PTSD and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, major depression, anxiety, and schizoid personality is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the etiology of his current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD is remanded due to a need for additional development.