PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied in 2004 and not reopened. The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 30% since November 12, 2007, and increased to 50% as of December 6, 2011.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms include anxiety, daily panic attacks, nightmares, auditory and visual hallucinations, flashbacks, social isolation, suicidal ideation, and attempted violence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD was not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to September 23, 2011.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. This includes obtaining VA treatment records and service personnel records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD at any time during the appeal period. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor leading to PTSD, and concluded that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to active service.

The Veteran's initial schedular ratings for PTSD were granted, with a higher rating of 50 percent effective February 14, 2009. Service connection was also established for GERD and IBS secondary to PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, pneumonia due to or as a consequence of dementia, is not related to service-connected conditions. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death based on PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30% prior to June 13, 2012. Since then, the rating has been increased to 70%, effective June 13, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for any pertinent medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation from December 30, 2004 to January 31, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a Social and Industrial Survey to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to in-service stressors involving personal assault and military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only as her loss of use at least one foot is not shown.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by various symptoms, leading to a finding of occupational and social impairment comparable to no worse than reduced reliability and productivity. The initial evaluation for PTSD is granted at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and review his claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorder. The RO will also determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously-denied claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at a 50 percent rating beginning May 4, 2010. Prior to that date, the evaluation remained at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to March 3, 2003 was denied. However, the Board granted staged ratings of 50 percent from March 3, 2003 and 70 percent from August 4, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to August 4, 2011 remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA mental health treatment records and scheduling a new examination by a psychiatrist to assess the severity of the Veteran's PTSD. The examiner should also comment on whether alcohol abuse is secondary to or a symptom of the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease related to herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.