PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50% from April 26, 2007, and increased to 70% effective August 6, 2008. The rating of 70% is maintained as it meets the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, but denied it on the merits due to his own willful misconduct during service. The current diagnosis is PTSD and dysthymia, which are considered as direct service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received within one year of the May 2004 and September 2006 rating decisions, allowing for a de novo review. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to her military service and personal assault experiences.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and determine the nature and likely etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner will assess whether the Veteran has a valid PTSD diagnosis related to his in-service personal assault and head trauma stressor, as well as whether he has other psychiatric disorders that are service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed as there are no remaining issues for appellate review.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and an increased disability rating for PTSD prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran's stated vocational goal of concrete sales was not reasonably feasible due to his service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities, including a severe brain injury from a motor vehicle accident. The VRC concluded that achieving this goal would be unreasonable given his current medical condition.

The Veteran's PTSD continues to be a significant condition impacting his social and occupational functioning, with the RO affirming its previous denial of an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and efforts to corroborate his reported stressors and service in Vietnam. The claims will be reviewed again after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his PTSD was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's disability compensation benefits were discontinued from October 18, 2007 to February 9, 2008 due to his status as a fugitive felon.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration of an extra-schedular evaluation due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, tinnitus, a scalp laceration scar, and PTSD. The issues include secondary service connection for hypertension, rating adjustments for PTSD, and an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations of his PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA medical records and any relevant private treatment records. The issues are inextricably intertwined with a TDIU issue that was previously remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to June 17, 2011, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating in excess of 50 percent due to symptoms such as chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of mood and motivation, difficulty establishing social relationships, intrusive thoughts, and multiple nightmares per week. The disability picture was characterized by reduced reliability and productivity but did not reach the level of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD that had its onset during active service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of cervical spine disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and will adjudicate the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease after obtaining the requested records.