PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has found that the Veteran timely perfected an appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The case is now remanded to consider whether a claim for TDIU was raised by correspondence dated April 28, 1992.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD were presumed to have existed prior to service, but did not find evidence of aggravation during service. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms including interpersonal difficulties, irritability and anger, impaired abstract thinking ability, difficulty concentrating, intrusive thoughts, distressing dreams, and depressed mood. These symptoms result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has presented competent evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD based on verified in-service stressors, and thus service connection for PTSD is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, specifically his experience of typing casualty reports during his active duty in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The appellant's claims will be reconsidered after this is done.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic residuals of syphilis, chronic residuals of infectious mononucleosis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (claimed as secondary to PTSD).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and for further adjudication of his claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by deficiencies in most areas of social and occupational functioning, including sleep disturbance with nightmares, intrusive thoughts, avoidant behavior, isolative behavior, hypervigilance, impaired impulse control, history of suicidal ideation, irritability, and anger. The Board finds that the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his request.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 70 percent. The issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to October 31, 2004 for the grant of a temporary total evaluation based upon a period of hospitalization over 21 days for PTSD remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The claim of reducing the rating for mechanical low back pain with lumbar strain, lumbar spondylosis, degenerative disc disease L4-5 and L5-S1 to 20 percent was found improper.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in severe impairment in his ability to establish and maintain effective or favorable relationships, warranting a 100% disability rating from November 27, 1995, to December 16, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, and he is now entitled to a compensable evaluation for this condition. The other issues were either denied or not addressed in the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a personality disorder, and an acquired neuropsychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The reasons included inconsistencies in the Veteran's account of his stressors and lack of credible supporting evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 18, 2005. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors and thus no basis for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a low back disorder other than partial lumbarization and spina bifida occulta at S1, and prostate cancer. The Veteran's personality disorder was not considered a disease within the meaning of legislation providing compensation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the effective date for the TDIU rating has been set as October 19, 2007.