PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his anxiety disorder was denied. The evidence showed that the Veteran had occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but not to the level required for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is due to an in-service personal assault and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The Veteran's right hand disability has also been rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying in-service stressors and obtaining a VA examination to determine if any psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a chronic condition during service and his diagnoses of cocaine dependence and substance induced mood disorder are not related to military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected eye and diabetic disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran meets the rating criteria for a TDIU and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, cold injury residuals, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the initial grant of service connection in May 28, 2002. The RO increased this rating to 100 percent effective June 26, 2006.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus. The Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, and it also finds that he may have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The claim for a separate psychiatric disorder will be remanded to further develop the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to reassess the severity of his PTSD and an SOC addressing whether there is new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to May 2, 2006. The earlier effective date for TDIU is granted from June 25, 2004.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the appellant's psychiatric, low back, and headache disabilities were not incurred in service or related to his active duty. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to determine the current severity of his posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to have manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, hypervigilance, an exaggerated startle response, severe intrusive thoughts and recollections, flashbacks, and a chronic sleep impairment throughout the appeal period. As a result, his service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD with dysthymia, chronic depression, and personality disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 24, 2006 for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for PTSD with alcoholism from September 15, 2004, and found that service connection for alcoholism as secondary to PTSD is warranted.