PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, major depression, and alcohol dependence, is currently rated at 50 percent. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, and impaired judgment.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat and his claimed stressors were not verified. Therefore, he does not have PTSD related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD and hypertension have been found to meet the criteria for a TDIU, effective August 25, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, disturbances of motivation and mood, and impairment of short-term memory. The criteria are not met for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD. The Veteran's appeal also includes an application for TDIU, which was not addressed by the RO. The Court ordered further action to determine if the Veteran raised a claim for TDIU and whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The case is being remanded for further development to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify stressors and consider the liberalized regulations regarding fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. The case will be reconsidered after any necessary development.

The Board has determined that the appellant may have experienced stressors related to his service aboard the USS Coral Sea, and a VA psychiatric examination is needed to determine if PTSD was caused by these in-service events. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in June 2004. The Veteran's claim is now pending on its merits.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 13, 2005. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not continuously rated totally disabling for at least five years from the date of his separation from service, and he did not meet the requirement of being a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing personnel records and corroborating evidence of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and for obtaining any relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since June 9, 2009. This rating is the maximum allowed under the criteria for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The issue of service connection for psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional records.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD and lip scar claims has been granted. The heart disorder, amblyopia, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy claims are pending.