PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the record to address his claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for PTSD and assigned an effective date of November 24, 2008.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, bipolar manic depression, and PTSD. The RO's previous decisions denying these claims are final.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claims for service connection. The issues of reopening claims for right ankle and right shoulder disabilities were also addressed, but as no new and material evidence was received, those claims were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which represents the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Veteran's condition manifests occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 10, 2006. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms have significantly worsened and now meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating throughout the period of this claim.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the Veteran's claimed stressors are not related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and depression as secondary to a service-connected disability were denied due to insufficient evidence of in-service stressors and the failure to establish a direct link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain the appellant's complete Mayo Clinic medical treatment records, including his psychiatric records from 1966 to August 2000 and April 2006. The case is then remanded for a new VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability, such as PTSD or major depressive disorder, was caused by the appellant's service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to a lack of unit records and because of recent regulatory changes regarding PTSD claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD. However, he is granted service connection for depression and anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether PTSD contributed to the Veteran's cause of death, and if so, whether it was service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of a specific stressor and an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating required for non-service connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 12, 2005. He is also service-connected for ischemic heart disease and tinnitus. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development and a video conference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on the Veteran's reported combat-related stressors and a diagnosis of PTSD by a VA psychiatrist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by an accident, and not due to his service-connected conditions. However, as he had been rated totally disabled for over five years prior to his death, the claimant is entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).