PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including locating a potential witness of racial discrimination and obtaining their statement.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD or any other psychiatric disability due to his service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent from September 1, 2001. The current appeal is for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is related to his service, specifically his duties as a human resource specialist in Afghanistan where he was involved with casualty operations and convoy travel. As such, the claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and the Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and PTSD. Specifically, VA must obtain records of any treatment received outside of VA, verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Thailand during his Vietnam-era service, and provide a VA examination to assess the etiology of all diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and treatment records, confirming the Veteran's service with the Army National Guard in June 1994, scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of factual ascertainable worsening in symptoms prior to November 30, 2006.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, but denied the claim due to a lack of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, including whether he experienced combat-related stressors. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors of sexual assault.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD/depressive disorder. The case has been remanded due to a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a previous rating decision that did not reopen his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to dress, undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, or attend to the wants of nature. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied as the earliest possible effective date would be August 21, 2006, when his claim to reopen was received. The claims for reopening of service connection for polyarthritis of the left and right lower extremities are granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% evaluation effective March 25, 2008. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms and impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective January 7, 2010. His tinnitus remains at a maximum of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating, finding that his PTSD alone did not render him unemployable and that when combined with other conditions, he was considered to be totally unemployable. The effective date of the grant of TDIU is June 3, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 16, 2009, and in excess of 50 percent from November 16, 2009, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been granted by the RO. The Veteran is currently receiving a 50% rating effective November 16, 2009.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD has caused occupational and social impairment, but not to a degree warranting an evaluation higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim of an initial rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining recent VA outpatient treatment records.