PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected PTSD. The decision also reopened her claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was granted, as the medical evidence showed a diagnosis of PTSD related to verified in-service stressors. The claim for service connection for psoriasis remains pending and will be addressed after additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a recent claim for an increased rating of posttraumatic stress disorder, and TDIU will be reconsidered after that decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are verified, and he has been diagnosed with PTSD. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of combat and the claimed stressors were not verified. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD based on verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent and later increased to 50 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, but granted TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is linked to an in-service sexual trauma, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 70%.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to May 30, 2007 and 50 percent beginning August 1, 2007. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating.,For the period prior to May 30, 2007, the Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as social isolation, irritability, anger, hypervigilance, insomnia, and GAF scores ranging from 41-65. There exists no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms like depressed mood, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment.,Beginning August 1, 2007, the Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia, social isolation, forgetfulness, irritability, anger, depression, hypervigilance, and a GAF score of 53. There exists no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms like impaired short-term memory, depressed mood, insomnia, and recurrent nightmares and flashbacks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to credible evidence of exposure to enemy mortar attacks during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of symptoms such as nightmares, chronic sleep problems, intrusive memories, restricted affect, moderate to severe depression, hypervigilance, anger and irritability, avoidant behavior, minimal indication of impulsivity, disturbances of motivation and mood; and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA). The appellant's disability benefits were awarded for paranoid schizophrenia and other functional psychotic disorders, but no medical records are available.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's stressor, as reported in his July 2003 PTSD Stressor form, is considered credible based on the information provided by him and corroborated by his DD 214. However, there was no combat citation or evidence of engagement in combat with the enemy to support the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and clarifying whether he seeks service connection for a different psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for Diabetes Mellitus, Type II. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD due to lack of combat experience and uncorroborated stressor allegations. For DM, the Board noted that the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his diabetes required only a restricted diet.

The Board finds that the appellant's PTSD is related to his service in a hostile area, and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed anxiety disorder with depression is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of combat experience, warranting service connection.