PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment. The claim for hypertension secondary to PTSD has been reopened.

The Board has identified potential outstanding VA records that may be material to the claim and has ordered their acquisition. The Veteran's cause of death was morphine intoxication, but his treating psychiatrist indicated it could have been a combination of medications for PTSD. A new medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from April 29, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred as a result of military sexual trauma during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to inadequate VA examination and failure to provide notice of regulatory amendments.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's death was caused by pancreatic cancer, but the Board finds that his service-connected coronary artery disease substantially contributed to his death. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of his claim for PTSD which was granted and assigned a 30% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by symptoms that produced occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas between July 3, 2006 and October 29, 2008. Therefore, an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD during this period is not warranted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, a skin disorder, and hypertension have been granted. The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to result in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right elbow, and traumatic brain injury have been withdrawn. The Board finds that his current rating for right sural nerve neuropathy is appropriate at 10 percent.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which he attributes to a helicopter crash during his military service in Korea. The Board has ordered additional development of the claim due to new information provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms no worse than daily nightmares and intrusive thoughts, constricted affect, occasional panic attacks, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's head injury residuals are service-connected and her acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is also service-connected based on direct evidence of a link between current symptoms and in-service events.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 6, 2008 is dismissed as moot due to the restoration of the 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and a back disability. The Veteran's reported stressors were not verified, and his acquired psychiatric disorders are not etiologically related to his service.