PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD has been withdrawn, and the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's accounts of his military experiences and alleged stressors were inconsistent, unreliable, and uncorroborated by any credible supporting evidence. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from January 1993. The Board denied the claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent and also denied the earlier effective date claim.

The appellant is not eligible for payment of attorney fees resulting from the May 2003 rating decision due to lack of a valid power of attorney and the VFW being the Veteran's representative during that period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a duty to assist and for a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 10 percent disability level, effective from March 2006. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at Level I.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, irritability, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, feelings of detachment, avoidance behaviors, survivor's guilt, and depression. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and service, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. This includes obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression was not shown to have been manifested by symptoms productive of impairment greater than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, resulting in a denial of increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression, was denied as there is no evidence of a service-connected disability. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the absence of a qualifying service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, and a sleep disorder, is currently rated at 50 percent. The appeal for an increased rating has been granted.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of hearings at the Huntington, West Virginia, RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as his statements and medical evidence support a diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressors. The claim for increased rating for prostate cancer residuals was also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to his military service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has PTSD, and therefore service connection for PTSD is not warranted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion from a VA cardiologist regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and/or PTSD. The case will be returned for further development.