PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his in-service combat service aboard U.S.S. PIVOT, which supports granting service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted service connection. The low back disability is rated at 40 percent disabling effective January 6, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depression and Alcohol Abuse is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 11, 2010. The rating reflects the severity of his symptoms since that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is not manifested by symptoms causing total occupational and social impairment, thus the criteria for an initial rating higher than 70 percent are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional information to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor. The appeal will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, during service or within one year of discharge. The examiner will also need to assess whether this condition was a contributory cause of his death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for service connection for PTSD are met.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the June 2007 rating decision that granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and depression, was denied. The Board found that the reported stressors were not verified and thus could not be used to establish service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right biceps and for chronic acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depression) were denied. The claim for service connection for flat feet was also denied. New evidence submitted since the last denial does not meet the criteria for reopening any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric symptoms are related to his military service and confirmed in-service stressors. The diagnosis of PTSD is supported by VA medical records and a Vet Center mental health care provider's opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to establish the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service. The Veteran will be asked to provide information about his treatment history, including any private hospitalizations or VA care providers who have treated him for a psychiatric disorder since discharge from service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and other conditions such as anxiety disorder not otherwise specified and major depressive disorder, all resulting from his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability was granted, but the condition is not considered secondary to any service-connected disability. The maximum schedular rating of 10% has been assigned for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his daughter's and his own indication that he is not appealing these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total social and occupational impairment since April 2010, warranting a 100% initial rating.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, claiming she became disabled due to her service-connected migraines and lupus disabilities in February 2000. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine when the Veteran first became unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.