PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by complaints of anxiety, increased irritability, flashbacks, crying spells, sleep problems, and poor concentration. The Board found that the disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD cannot be granted as there is no legal basis for such a claim due to the denial of service connection in June 1997 and the subsequent grant of service connection on September 23, 1998.

PTSD was initially granted with a 10 percent rating effective February 16, 2005.,A subsequent increase to 30 percent was granted effective November 30, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD with ADD was rated at 70 percent from September 23, 2006 to May 21, 2008. Since then, the rating has been increased to 50 percent effective May 22, 2008.

The Veteran has a verified stressor and a current diagnosis of PTSD, which the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the RO has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for his service-connected PTSD. The RO also assigned separate initial ratings of 10 percent each for his residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left calf and thigh.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to August 1, 2007, and at 50 percent from that date. The increased rating of 50 percent has been granted effective August 1, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) do not meet the threshold minimum percentage requirements for TDIU due to their combined disability evaluation of 60 percent. However, the case is being remanded as there are insufficient records on file to determine his employability.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 12, 2001. The appeal is for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that there is no credible evidence to support the occurrence of the claimed stressors.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, resulting in a denial.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at the highest possible evaluation of 100 percent due to total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is not service-connected.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was first manifested many years after service and is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, with depression, has been granted. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the Remand portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disease of the central nervous system with spastic paraparesis and PTSD was denied. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of lumbar myelogram was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and Butler Hospital records, and a supplemental opinion from the December 2009 examiner.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a stomach disorder, right eye and left eye disorders, hearing loss, and Lyme disease. Service connection was granted for PTSD but not for the other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for PTSD and a temporary total rating based on convalescence following incisional hernia repair was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for PTSD or a temporary total evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a review of the claims file by a VA psychiatrist to determine if there is medical indication that the Appellant met the criteria for insanity at the time the acts which led to his discharge were performed.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors and thus, service connection for PTSD was denied. The acquired psychiatric disorders were not shown to be related to service.