PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to an in-service assault, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors were not verified, and thus did not establish service connection for PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder. The respiratory disorder claim was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 19, 2007. The rating is based on the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, or difficulty understanding complex commands.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to incomplete development of her claims file. The VA needs to secure additional treatment records and ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse in early remission from October 20, 2009 to June 23, 2010 was granted a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his education and occupational experience, rendered him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment as of June 29, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, with symptoms including difficulty sleeping, depressed mood, blunted affect, isolation, lack of motivation, inability to get along with people, irritability, impaired short- and long-term memory, and poor to fair insight, judgment, and impulse control, is manifested by total occupational and social impairment. The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for service-connected PTSD from January 28, 2004 onward.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not engage in combat and his reported stressors do not meet the criteria for service connection due to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Therefore, service connection is denied for PTSD, psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bronchitis, Ghon's complex, sleep apnea, anemia, and hyperlipidemia.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a verified in-service stressor and therefore could not establish service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the appellant was 'insane' at the time of his court-martial discharge.

The Board found no evidence of current PTSD, hearing loss, or tinnitus related to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, mood disorder, and depression, were denied. The claim for increased rating for the thoracic spine disability was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of current PTSD and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial rating of 30 percent effective April 20, 2004. The Veteran's appeal is now on the issue of whether a higher initial rating should be assigned prior to December 8, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and ED, including verification of stressors and examination for psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 7, 2009, when he filed his petition to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder were found to warrant a 70 percent disability rating effective March 28, 2008, the date of his claim for TDIU. The earlier effective dates of July 12, 2004 are granted as he met the schedular criteria for these conditions prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including the residuals of a lung injury and PTSD, are shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU by reason of these service-connected conditions.