PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, resulting in a 30 percent disability rating. The appeal for increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected as it is directly related to his military service, specifically the traumatic experiences he reported during submarine duty.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, including its relationship to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination of his PTSD. The case will be readjudicated after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the existence or etiology of his claimed conditions. The claim for a left knee disorder was not reopened, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) was reopened based on new evidence provided since the last final denial.

The Board finds that the Veteran's neck disability is not shown by the most probative evidence of record to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, as well as the potential need for additional SSA records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant employment records and medical records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Physicians Regional Medical Center from March 17, 2009 to March 18, 2009 are now covered by VA as the treatment was deemed necessary due to a non-service-connected condition and emergency.

The Veteran meets the basic eligibility requirements for assistance in acquiring a special home adaptation grant, but does not meet the criteria for specially adaptive housing.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no verified stressor supporting his diagnosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no credible evidence linking his current PTSD to a verified in-service stressor.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors were incredible and unverified, and there is no evidence of psychiatric complaints in service or for many years after separation from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol abuse in partial remission were granted an initial rating of 10 percent before March 7, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to April 28, 2010 did not meet the criteria for a disability rating greater than 30 percent.

The case is remanded for another VA examination to assess the existence and etiology of any psychiatric disorder found, including PTSD. The examiner must reconcile previous findings with current ones and provide a true picture of the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric status.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his PTSD is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, or headaches that were caused by his service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable VA rating criteria. The Board finds that his symptoms warrant this evaluation given their severity and impact on his daily life.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting mild symptoms such as occasional nightmares and hypervigilance.