PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in difficulty in understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The VA determined that a 50 percent disability evaluation for PTSD is warranted from April 24, 1998.

The Board has expanded the issue from PTSD alone to include other psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's service records show exposure to stressful combat situations in Vietnam, but the RO must clarify what stressors are credible and verify them for a diagnosis of PTSD. Further medical clarification is needed regarding whether the Veteran has any diagnosed psychiatric disability that was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of increased ratings for gunshot wound residuals and PTSD are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent initial evaluation, effective October 22, 2007. The appeal is granted for the remaining issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since August 9, 2007, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's PTSD and organic brain syndrome resulted in severe impairment, including total unemployability due to his psychiatric symptoms. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 100% rating are met.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and the Board finds no evidence to support a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to in-service personal assault and harassment, but denied her claim as there is no credible evidence corroborating the alleged stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as his symptoms are linked to his military service in the Merchant Marine during World War II.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is currently 30 percent, and the Board has determined that additional records are needed to determine if his condition warrants a higher rating or TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD is being remanded for further development, including another VA examination to reassess the severity of his PTSD and whether it precludes him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim requires additional development, including obtaining Army National Guard service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for his service-connected PTSD and residuals of a stab wound of the left posterolateral thigh was denied. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 12, 2008. The RO found that the condition causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were denied as he did not file a timely substantive appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher initial rating. The Board denied an increased rating for this period.

The Board will consider the issue of service connection for any diagnosed mental disorder, not just PTSD. The Veteran's case is being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for a current VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD is pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is found to be due to service. Additionally, erectile dysfunction is found to be proximately due to his service-connected genitourinary disability. The Veteran's genitourinary disability has been rated at 30 percent since March 23, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, paranoid schizophrenia, and depression, were not related to his service or any in-service stressors. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.