PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional consideration of evidence and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported stressors are verified and he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service in Vietnam. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to November 19, 2008, due to symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and sleep impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to obtain or retain employment, and the Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on his employability, as well as for additional records of pertinent medical treatment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal concerning his claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to service-connected major depression with PTSD, was untimely. The case is being remanded to obtain records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU based on this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple joint disorders, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired anxiety disorder, including PTSD. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by impaired sleep, flashbacks, nightmares, social avoidance and isolation, irritability and anxiety; with a decline in the Global Assessment Functioning (GAF) score range from 60-65 to 50-55. The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled hearing and because of the complexity in notifying him of his hearing date. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD with an effective date prior to November 1, 2006 based on new and material evidence submitted in November 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a comprehensive VA orthopedic and neurological examination, as well as a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim should be recharacterized as a claim for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and/or major depressive disorder. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for service-related PTSD and his personality disorder is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that a VA psychiatric examination is necessary to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service in Vietnam and his reported experiences are considered.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, effective January 23, 2009. His service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent, also effective from January 23, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 27, 2009 for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, finding that there was no factual basis to grant such prior to this date.