PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of the recently amended regulations regarding service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder results in loss of use of a creative organ, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including stroke, migraine headaches, PTSD, hypertension, onychomycosis, hepatitis C, and joint pains. The decision is based on a finding that there was no evidence of in-service onset or association with these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus was granted effective January 17, 2005. The rating assigned is 50%.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and determine if he suffers from PTSD as a result of military service. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since August 29, 2007. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

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 occupational tasks.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran currently has any psychiatric disorders, including depression, PTSD and anxiety, that are related to service. The examiner is instructed to provide an opinion on whether the stressor was sexual assault or combat exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is attributable to his active duty service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying the appellant's periods of active duty for training and obtaining service treatment records. The VA will also schedule a VA orthopedic examination to determine if any current back disorder is related to an incident during active duty for training, and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the appellant has PTSD as a result of verified stressors.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he is satisfied with the disability rating assigned to his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from September 30, 2004 to December 27, 2008 and the Board found this rating appropriate. From December 28, 2008, a higher rating of more than 30 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the earliest date of entitlement for service connection of PTSD is October 27, 1992. The effective date for this grant of service connection is set at October 27, 1992.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since June 20, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the authenticity of documents submitted by the Veteran and to obtain further medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not present an exceptional disability picture that warrants an extra-schedular evaluation. The Board also found the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD, as he has other non-service connected disabilities and age.

The Veteran's claim of an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is dismissed because it was not filed within one year of the March 1992 rating decision, which became final.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Veteran's current psychiatric condition is considered unrelated to his military service.