PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notification and development of records, including VA examinations.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for PTSD, finding that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and provided competent lay testimony regarding an in-service stressor. The Board concluded that the Veteran's PTSD is related to service.

The Veteran's death prevented any claims for accrued benefits from being processed, as all prior claims were adjudicated and closed before his death. The appellant did not have standing to file a claim for accrued benefits due to the lack of pending claims at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent effective from March 31, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as there is no evidence that a formal or informal claim was received prior to July 6, 2009. The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms consistent with a 10% rating under the criteria for PTSD in VA's Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain another VA examination and for further development of the claim, including consideration of whether different ratings may be warranted for different time periods in light of Hart v. Mansfield.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, an adjustment disorder, and depression, as well as status post peripheral vascular disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including access to employment verification and VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 23, 2001, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent evaluation, effective from March 10, 2003. The appellant's PTSD is currently manifested by symptoms of depression, difficulty with sleep, nightmares, recurrent thoughts and memories about Vietnam, feelings of anxiety due to recollection of memories and flashbacks, avoidance of people and stimuli that recall Vietnam experiences, and feelings of withdrawal.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD. The Board has determined that the earliest claim for service connection was received on March 30, 1987, and a VA treatment report dated April 15, 1986, related to PTSD. Therefore, the effective date is set at April 15, 1986.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the diagnoses of all psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated under the new regulations regarding PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and his stressor is related to this engagement, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim on appeal can be properly adjudicated, and the Veteran's psychiatric disability must be evaluated in light of her reported fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Veteran is entitled to a 50 percent initial rating for service-connected depression with PTSD for the entire rating period, effective from the date of discharge.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn during a hearing. The Board granted the TDIU claim, finding that his service-connected disabilities (PTSD and bilateral hearing loss) preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.