PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are found to be related to his military service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: one for PTSD with panic attacks prior to October 23, 2008 and another for PTSD with a cognitive disorder due to TBI since that date. The RO granted service connection but did not specify the rating criteria used.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and to determine whether any diagnosed cervical spine disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and right ankle fracture) are of such severity that they prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder, with features of depression, are found to be service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive throughout the initial rating period by social and occupational impairment that more nearly approximates total than deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran currently has a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that had its onset during his period of active duty military service. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 18, 2011. The Board found that a rating in excess of 70 percent is not warranted for any period of time since November 20, 2008.

The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death due to metastatic melanoma.

The Veteran's claim for increased PTSD rating and TDIU prior to November 1, 2012 is being remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records from G.R., M.S. dated January to February 2009 and clarify whether his service-connected PTSD alone or in conjunction with other disabilities rendered him unable to secure substantially gainful employment prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental medical opinion to ensure compliance with the August 2012 remand instructions and allow the physician the opportunity to review the entire evidence of record, including the terminal hospital records from the Lost Creek Care Center.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent. The Board granted entitlement to a TDIU rating from November 19, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including securing updated VA treatment records and arranging a PTSD examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues, including PTSD rating and service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, but not to the extent that it would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, residuals of a cold injury to the feet, nerve damage to the feet, pneumonia, or hyperlipidemia (claimed as a blood disorder) incurred in service. As such, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression have been found to meet the criteria for a 100 percent schedular rating, which represents total occupational impairment. The claim of entitlement to TDIU has also been granted based on the service-connected PTSD.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative, thus the case is dismissed.