PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression is being remanded due to incomplete records and unverified stressors. The VA will attempt to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records, verify his claimed in-service stressors, and schedule him for a VA examination.

The Board has scheduled a videoconference hearing for the Veteran and is remanding the case back to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office (RO) for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a timely Notice of Disagreement to the February 2009 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD. The skin disability claim was denied as there is no evidence showing it is related to active duty service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is likely due to a physical assault he experienced during his active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, are related to her service, particularly her father's death during active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service. The claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss will also be addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the criteria for this condition. The decision grants a higher disability rating than initially assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypothyroidism, all secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms for the period prior to May 13, 2008 do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent. For the period beginning on May 13, 2008, his PTSD disability is rated as 70 percent disabling and meets the minimum percentage requirements for an award of TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent evaluation from July 1, 2009 to April 9, 2013. Since April 9, 2013, the Veteran's PTSD caused more severe impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and to determine if he currently suffers from PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disability related to his service. The case will be returned for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The Board will consider whether his claimed stressors are adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD based on fear of hostile military activity during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues regarding whether the Veteran's alcohol abuse is secondary to his PTSD, as well as potential service connection for polyneuropathy.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 50 percent since May 12, 2010, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unemployable prior to December 30, 2003. The Board found that the effective date for TDIU should be set at December 30, 2003, and denied special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to personal assaults in service.