PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, right hip disabilities, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sinus disability, left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and swollen neck glands. The evidence submitted since the previous denial was found not to be new and material.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective January 23, 2007. The appellant's PTSD produces severe social and industrial impairment, preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depression are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's PTSD from January 8, 1999, onward, finding that his symptoms have caused total occupational impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that new evidence submitted since the September 2003 denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including scheduling a personal hearing before an RO Decision Review Officer (DRO) or Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression with psychotic features, has been remanded due to the need for additional development. The examiner is requested to determine if the claimed personal assault actually occurred and whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to such stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and/or major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The claims of service connection for an upper respiratory condition and for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae are being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since December 6, 2006. The rating is based on the criteria for a 30 percent disability under Diagnostic Code 9411 due to symptoms such as irritability, poor concentration with some memory impairment, hypervigilance, and exaggerated startle response.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no credible evidence of in-service stressors and the Veteran did not serve in combat. The Board found that his statements regarding his stressors were not credible.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and reopened the claim for a skin disorder. The respiratory disorder claims are denied.

The Board is reopening the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder on the basis of new and material evidence. However, since this claim requires further development before being readjudicated on its underlying merits, the Board is remanding the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which reflects total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is considered secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his respiratory disability and PTSD with major depressive disorder. The TDIU claim will also be considered in conjunction with the increased rating claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim, assigning a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The decision concludes that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD approximates the criteria for a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.