PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including whether any are related to his active duty military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as an anxious mood, extreme hypervigilance, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, effective from May 21, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and dementia, have been shown to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment during the period from January 12, 2004 to June 6, 2009. The TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal condition secondary to PTSD, back disability, skin condition on chest, back and arms, migraine headaches, and eye condition due to unresolved procedural issues.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 17, 2004 and granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and a psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service stressor or chronic condition since service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his condition does not warrant a higher evaluation as it only manifests reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as nightmares, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a headache disorder was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess his employability and the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's PTSD evaluation is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent effective May 10, 2005. As of August 17, 2007, the disability resulted in nearly total occupational and social impairment, warranting a higher rating.

The VA has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD effective December 15, 2006 was withdrawn. The Veteran also withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on credible assertions and in-service stressors. For the cervical spine and meralgia paresthetica claims, new VA examinations are needed to assess current symptomatology and determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no credible evidence that any claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been manifested by total occupational and social impairment since June 18, 2009.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for the service-connected scar, residual of fragment wound to the head. The Board dismissed this issue.