PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as his claim for service connection for depression, have been granted. The Veteran is entitled to initial ratings higher than 10 percent for the non-dominant upper extremity and lower extremities, and a rating higher than 30 percent for the dominant upper extremity since February 27, 2009. He also has been granted service connection for depression.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied as the evidence does not show that his coronary artery disease, claimed as heart condition, is due to VA negligence or an unforeseeable event.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 25, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from a VA Hospital in Houston, Texas.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been received. The Board also determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating or an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal for an increase in the evaluation of his PTSD, and also requests that a scheduled hearing be withdrawn. As a result, the Board has no jurisdiction to review this case.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records and verifying alleged stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum available rating. The Board finds that his symptoms warrant this evaluation.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of November 3, 2006 for the assignment of a 100% disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating. For his lumbar spine strain with spondylosis, he was granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent prior to March 27, 2009 and 40 percent from that date onwards.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The symptoms include intrusive thoughts, sleep disturbances, anxiety, decreased concentration, memory loss, avoidance behavior, panic attacks, irritability, anger, conflicts with workers, and depression.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his ability to maintain gainful employment due to service-connected PTSD. A new VA examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 29, 2007, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain in-patient hospitalization records from Womack Army Hospital, the 3rd Field Hospital in Vietnam, and the 106th General Hospital in Japan. Additionally, his treatment records from Dr. Heffelfinger, Dermatology, LTD., and other identified locations are also required.

The Veteran's widow is appealing the denial of service connection for the cause of his death. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to have a VA examiner review the evidence to determine if the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, or other conditions caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a traumatic brain injury are proximately due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board found that it is not factually ascertainable from the evidence of record that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to March 9, 2004. Therefore, an effective date earlier than March 9, 2004 for the award of TDIU benefits is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied as no prior, pending claim existed that could have resulted in a grant of this benefit.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and respiratory disability.