PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the condition was incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that there is no current evidence of a psychiatric disability, and the Veteran's claims were denied as his claim was not substantiated by competent medical evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and a testicle disorder, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD, a respiratory disability, and cellulitis of the left foot and groin. The evidence received since the previous denials relates to the basis for the prior denial.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional evidence has been obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and PTSD.

The Veteran's vision disorder claim is denied, but his PTSD claim is reopened. He is granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was submitted in September 1998, and the Board has determined that an effective date of September 14, 1998 is warranted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, onychomycosis of the feet and toes, a fungus infection of the first finger, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's annual income was found to be excessive for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation or own name. The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms no worse than depression, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, hypervigilance, restrictive affect, intrusive thoughts, irritability, suicidal ideation, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of mood and motivation, and persistent hallucinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of whether the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and an adjustment disorder, to include depression, which may be aggravated by either or both PTSD and an adjustment disorders, will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest possible level of disability (100%), and his claim for SMC is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or service connection.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities, including depression and adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The Veteran's reported stressors do not meet criteria for PTSD as defined by DSM-IV.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as there is at least as likely as not that he engaged in combat and his symptoms are consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with schizophrenia has resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100 percent schedular rating effective from January 20, 2010.