PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, federal disability retirement records, and allowing the Veteran an opportunity to provide information regarding his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain private treatment records and a VA examination to address the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to service-connected disabilities or due to an injury or other event during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depression are due, in part, to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) and have granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, and he is not entitled to TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining employment records and conducting VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent disabling prior to August 8, 2011. The evidence showed occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain Vet Center treatment records and ensure compliance with previous directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge from August 9, 1969 to May 21, 1971 does not constitute a bar to VA benefits. The issue of service connection for PTSD remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression was initially rated at 30 percent prior to July 13, 2006. From that date, he received a 70 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 15, 2011.

The Board has granted a non-compensable (10%) evaluation for the Veteran's right thumb disability, finding that his symptoms are manifested by pain and limited range of motion without other significant impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion from a VA cardiologist to determine if the Veteran's cause of death was related to his service-connected conditions or any underlying causes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying claimed stressors, and scheduling examinations to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and right knee condition are related to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for tinnitus and PTSD, thus the cases are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and degenerative changes of his lumbar spine. The case will be returned to the Board after these issues are adjudicated.

The Veteran's cataracts are not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran's current PTSD disability does not render him unemployable due to all of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's stressor of incoming enemy fire is verified, and he should be afforded a VA examination to determine if his PTSD or any other psychiatric disability is related to this stressor. The case will then be readjudicated.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to May 7, 2010 resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.