PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional records and conduct further development in order to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent and increased to 70 percent. From July 26, 2006, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service stressful event and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and finds that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service exposure to SCUD missile attacks. The Veteran's symptoms are consistent with PTSD, including nightmares, intrusive memories, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, fear, uncontrolled anger, guardedness, isolation, avoidance of stimuli, emotional lability, depression, and avoidance of other people.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been characterized by total occupational and social impairment, thus the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and Bipolar Disorder are service-connected, with the PTSD being linked to a sexual assault during active duty. The Bipolar Disorder is considered secondary to the PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100 percent evaluation, the highest rating available.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms such as nightmares, sleep impairment, flashbacks, restricted affect, and increased social isolation. The Board found that the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent were not met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. The case is being remanded to consider new evidence submitted by the veteran, including a March 2010 opinion letter from a VA licensed clinical social worker.

The Board found that there is no relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his cause of death from COPD. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any other service-connected condition contributed to or caused his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD based on a verified stressor, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied.

Throughout the appeal period, the Veteran's PTSD has been reflective of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by severe occupational impairment and significant social isolation, warranting a 100 percent disability rating effective May 18, 2005.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death from heart failure.

The Board has determined that there are sufficient details to allow for an attempt to verify the claimed stressors and remands the case back to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings has been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required to determine if the Veteran's PTSD and other psychiatric disorders are related to his service. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 50 percent is not warranted. The evidence does not demonstrate total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD symptoms. As for TDIU, the Board concludes that the Veteran is not precluded from maintaining substantially gainful employment solely as a result of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The Board found that the claimed stressors were not verified and did not occur during combat, thus failing to meet the criteria for service connection.