PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment records and a medical opinion regarding his employability.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the RO's rating decision of February 1998, denying the Veteran's original claim for service connection for PTSD. The earliest effective date assignable for the grant of service connection for PTSD is July 11, 1997.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent, which the appellant argues is insufficient to warrant a higher rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to determine the relationship between his alcohol dependence and PTSD, as well as an evaluation of whether he is able to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective November 30, 2004. The RO has now granted a higher rating of 70 percent for the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Peripheral neuropathy claims were denied as they are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia, is attributable to service. The claim for increased rating on right foot disability requires additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering the issue of an extraschedular evaluation for PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 50 percent prior to February 4, 2010 and has now been increased to 70 percent effective from that date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, poor impulse control, periods of violence, suicidal ideation, and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. However, the preponderance of the evidence shows that the disability has not been productive of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is dismissed as the issue has been moot due to the grant of service connection for PTSD, which includes consideration of his depressive symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD, currently rated at 30 percent. The RO has already granted service connection and assigned a 10% disability rating in January 2008, effective October 26, 2006. However, the Veteran contends that his PTSD symptoms are more severe than this current disability rating reflects.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further verification of his prior Army service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, depression, attention deficit disorder, and bipolar disorder, has been adequately compensated by the assigned initial 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's low back condition is service-connected, and his acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and PTSD) may be related to service. The lung condition is not service-connected.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. New evidence was presented that relates to a previously unestablished fact and gives rise to a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that her current psychiatric disorder is related to sexual harassment experienced during her active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting GAF scores and diagnoses in the record. The VA examiner is requested to address whether there are psychiatric symptoms not associated with the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, and if so, identify their etiology.