PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's headaches are etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD and its associated mental health conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), tension, and anxiety. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this relationship.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination to assess his current PTSD severity, as well as other issues related to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol abuse.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a C&P examination. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has reopened both the claim for a low back disorder and the PTSD claim due to new evidence. However, service connection cannot be established as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination for PTSD and hypertension, as well as an opportunity for the Veteran to submit an informal brief regarding benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service and post-service medical records, clarifying the examiner's statements regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death, leading to dementia and ultimately renal failure. The claim of entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied by the Board. The evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to psychiatric symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and a need for further examination to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the symptoms, including nightmares and irritability, were consistent with a reduced reliability and productivity but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered the claims to be remanded for additional development and readjudication, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse and depression was initially rated at 50 percent from March 30, 2006 to December 10, 2007. Effective December 11, 2007, the Veteran received a 100% rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability, which included PTSD with alcohol abuse and depression. The effective date of TDIU was granted as of December 11, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent and granted for accrued benefits purposes. The appellant contends that a higher rating is warranted, but the Board found no evidence of occupational or social impairment warranting an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 1, 2005, for the grant of service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder with depression was denied as there is no pending, unadjudicated claim of entitlement to service connection for adjustment disorder with depression dating back to September 1983.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals on several issues due to his withdrawal of those claims. The remaining issues are related to service connection for hypertension, a psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his disability is currently rated at 70 percent, and there is no evidence of total social and occupational impairment due to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of award of service connection for PTSD was denied as his claim was not submitted prior to March 12, 1999 and there is no evidence showing the increase in severity became factually ascertainable prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and headaches are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, provide secondary service connection notice, and schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the evidence shows that she has occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to parasuicidal tendencies, depression, impaired impulse control such as unprovoked irritability with periods of domestic violence; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances including work or a worklike setting; and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The Board finds this warrants a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher initial rating of 30 percent for his PTSD. The claim has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his disability.