PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder and also denied entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that diabetes, presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents in service, contributed to the Veteran's death from pulmonary embolism. As such, the criteria for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death have been met.

The Veteran's dental disorder claim was denied, and his growth to the left upper chest was granted. The service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) was not granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate search efforts for in-service mental health records and police records related to a shooting incident. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been shown to manifest as total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression, anxiety, and sleep impairment is currently rated at 70 percent since October 3, 2012. The TDIU issue has been granted prior to September 21, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as the VA examinations did not provide an opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities, in concert, render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his other diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are not shown to be etiologically related to service. The claims for right knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and bilateral leg cramps were withdrawn by the Veteran during a hearing before the Board. Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and a mood disorder), right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and bilateral leg cramps.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling a new examination to determine if the Veteran has any diagnosed psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression. The claim will be readjudicated after this is done.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of PTSD, which is related to an in-service sexual assault. The Veteran's PTSD is therefore granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating since March 28, 2007. The evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with night sweats and sleep disturbances has been found to result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships, social withdrawal, hypervigilance, sleep impairment, mood disturbance, difficulty adapting to work and tasks, resulting in total occupational and social impairment. The Board finds that the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating (total) for PTSD have been met throughout the entire rating period.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for an increased initial rating for PTSD, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development and examination to determine the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to his service events. The case will be returned to the Board for readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with anxiety and depression was denied by the Board, which remanded the matter due to a request for a video-conference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further research into the veracity of the Veteran's reported stressors in service. The claim will be reconsidered based on this additional information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been raised by the record and needs to be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination and the need for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.