PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted an effective date of June 16, 2004 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression. The initial disability rating remains at 50 percent prior to February 26, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU have been denied. The Board finds that further development is required to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim as the appellant has died.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the criteria for an initial compensable rating for hypertension have not been met, and did not find any other issues warranting a higher or earlier effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in judgment, family relations, work and mood due to symptoms including anxiety, near continuous depression, sleep disturbance, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, withdrawal, isolation, loss of interest, lack of motivation, exaggerated startle response, persistent hypervigilence, suspiciousness, irritability, outbursts of anger, impaired impulse control, some unprovoked irritability with periods of violence, impaired attention, concentration and focus, abnormal abstract thinking, severe impaired short and long term memory, difficulty in understanding complex commands, and Global Assessment of Functioning scores ranging from 42 to 50 indicating severe symptoms. The Veteran is assigned a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD with MDD, panic attacks and agoraphobia, and OCD, has been found to result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that there is no competent and credible evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's lactose intolerance and service, and denied his claim for service connection. The psychiatric disorder claim was remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claimed stressor is supported by his own statements and verified by lay 'buddy statements'. The new regulation allows for a diagnosis of PTSD based on fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and PTSD, but the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is not considered to be directly related to his military service. The claim for PTSD was reopened based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's death was attributed to natural causes, specifically end stage renal disease. The service-connected conditions (post-laminectomy lumbosacral disc disease and PTSD) are not considered contributory factors in his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for amblyopia is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and clarification of representation. The appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is service-connected, as it is linked to his in-service experiences and not due to pre-existing conditions or other factors.

The Veteran's appeal includes a claim for an increased rating for PTSD and whether his alcohol dependence is secondary to PTSD. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether his PTSD is related to a verified stressor during service. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim and must be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, that manifested during or as a result of his military service.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder, finding that the disability picture is adequately contemplated by the current schedular criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), bilateral flat feet, and chronic low back strain are all found to be related to his military service. The claim for increased disability evaluation for the lumbar spine is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and an anxiety disorder. The case is REMANDED to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, hyperlipidemia, and right wrist arthralgia were denied. The Board found the evidence against these claims to be more probative than the Veteran's contentions.,Service connection was not granted for obesity as there is no disability associated with it.