PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety. The claim for prostate cancer was reduced from a 100 percent evaluation to a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not solely about service connection and have requested additional development to address other issues, including a psychiatric disorder claim due to personal assault allegations.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on a personal assault in service, finding that the Veteran's statements and testimony concerning the reported stressors are credible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his PTSD. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on the combined rating of 60% for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding Social Security Administration records and other necessary actions.

The Board found that the grants of service connection were based on fraud, and thus severed all service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred during active service and granted.

The Board found no current thoracic back strain and denied service connection for it. The Veteran's PTSD was not productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent since July 15, 2009. He previously had a 10 percent rating from December 27, 2005. The effective date for the increased evaluation remains in dispute.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, anger and irritability, and panic symptoms. The Board finds an initial rating of 30 percent, but no greater, is warranted.

The Board found that the termination of the Veteran's TDIU rating was not proper due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination, and thus restored the TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for right ankle disability and service connection for PTSD were both denied by the Board.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) are etiologically related to service or herbicide exposure. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor, and his current psychiatric disability is not shown to be related to service. His hypertension and weakness conditions are also not linked to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD was denied, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including consideration of new regulations regarding PTSD. The Veteran's claims will be adjudicated based on the additional evidence obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an outstanding request for a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling this hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that it is presumed to have been caused by the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during active duty in Vietnam. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and a TDIU were denied. The Board found that the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to October 7, 1999, had not been met, but that the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation from October 7, 1999, had been met.