PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for PTSD due to a personal assault during VA treatment in 1990 and 1992. The case has been remanded for additional development, including obtaining complaints against the facility from Mountain Home VAMC and records related to the Federal Tort Claims Act lawsuit filed by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to address the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional evidence has been considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mental disorder, which includes PTSD with depressive disorder and agoraphobia, approximates occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The criteria for a 70 percent disability evaluation have been met.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is linked to his in-service exposure to mortar rounds and rocket attacks while serving in Vietnam, with a principal duty as a cannoneer.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects the severity of his symptoms that include reduced reliability and productivity due to panic attacks, disturbed sleep, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and his left hand disability is rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction as secondary to coronary artery disease were also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to June 5, 2009 and increased to 70 percent from that date. The effective date for the 70 percent rating is not specified.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and a VA examination. The issues are whether he should receive an increased evaluation for PTSD and if his effective date for service connection should be earlier than May 20, 1999.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the claim for service connection of hypertension as secondary to PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a right knee disability. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and major depression are rated under the same criteria, resulting in overlapping symptomatology. The Board finds no basis for separate disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an outstanding request for a videoconference hearing with the Board. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Veteran is required to provide additional information or evidence, and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by a single gunshot wound to the head, and service connection is granted for the cause of his death due to depression and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including exploring whether service trauma resulted in PTSD, which, in turn, resulted in alcohol abuse.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and related conditions such as anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are linked to his in-service stressor of a jeep accident.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying an in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, a depressive disorder, and alcohol use/dependence secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is now pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise and grants service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected PTSD.