PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran died from senile dementia, Alzheimer's type. The cause of death is not service-connected and the claim for DIC benefits under section 1318 was remanded due to incomplete records and need for a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain pertinent VA treatment records and an appropriate VA examination. The case will be readjudicated based on all evidence of record.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his in-service experiences, including combat in Vietnam.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD, and remanded the underlying claim on the merits for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, and he is also entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxious and depressed mood is productive of mild occupational and social impairment due to moderate symptoms such as nightmares, sleep disturbance, intrusive memories, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, avoidance behavior, a slight decrease in abstract thinking, and depression. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Schizophrenic Reaction, is before the Board again after previous denials. The case requires further development to address new evidence of personal assault stressors and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability and consideration of whether he is unemployable due to this condition.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits in the amount of $10,186.40 is waived due to fault on both his and VA's part, undue hardship caused by repayment, and failure to take into account significant functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient examination and diagnostic testing regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of a claimed stressor and obtaining Commendation Medal Certificates. The issues include service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypertensive heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, as he provided sufficient evidence to establish the occurrence of his claimed stressors and meet all other criteria for service connection. The peripheral neuropathy claim is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a diagnosis and link between current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as he does not have a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disorder was also denied as there is no evidence that his current condition is related to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine due to inadequate evidence of record, including a need for new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from January 22, 2011. The Board has granted a higher initial rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's alcoholism is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular consideration due to total occupational and social impairment caused by service-connected PTSD.