PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, major depression, PTSD, hypertension with CAD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective October 21, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and COPD are found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, warranting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's sleep apnea and COPD due to their aggravation by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective November 30, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, right leg disorder, left hip disorder, hearing loss, and respiratory disorder. The low back strain claim was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that were caused or aggravated by her service, or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected PTSD, which led to alcohol abuse and liver cancer. The Board grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA records and requests for Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as the need to obtain relevant ongoing treatment records from VA medical centers.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining mental health records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder. The examiner will assess whether the Veteran's claimed stressors are adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD and whether his symptoms are related to those stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service and/or his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and GERD are service-connected based on direct evidence of a link between his in-service experiences and current conditions.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional records and a VA examination. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD will be addressed after resolving any other issues, including service connection for depression.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and tinnitus. The increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, hypertension, and autonomic neuropathy of the gastrointestinal tract with complications of small bowel obstruction are also granted.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran has PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder as a result of his service. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating, effective from July 17, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but the Board has reopened his claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU remains on appeal due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities. The RO is instructed to arrange for a VA mental disorders examination, obtain any additional evidence, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with residual schizophrenia is granted. The issue regarding CUE in the November 14, 1979 rating decision that denied nonservice-connected pension benefits remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's other claims related to depression, peripheral neuropathies of the bilateral lower extremities, osteoarthritis of the knees, low back disc disease with radiation into the left lower extremity, hepatitis C, and hypertension are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.