PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right inguinal hernia, status post repair. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since the effective date of his claim. The issues of amebic dysentery, right appendectomy scar, residual of a back disorder, and tonsillectomy are withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD with major depression and organic brain syndrome with headaches, dizziness and tinnitus was denied as his claim is a freestanding claim that cannot be considered due to the finality of previous rating decisions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining evidence to corroborate the appellant's claimed stressor and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a psychiatric examination to determine if her current psychiatric conditions are related to service. Graves' Disease and residuals of a right toe fracture will also be examined.

The Veteran's appeal was partially granted, with service connection for panic disorder without agoraphobia established and a rating of 30% effective from September 23, 2009. The issue of earlier effective date remains unresolved.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking and mood. The Board finds that the criteria for a 70 percent rating have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anorexia nervosa, are related to her military service, particularly her reported sexual assault during active duty. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for service-connected PTSD was denied. The RO found that the disability did not meet criteria warranting an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is moot because his psychiatric manifestations are already accounted for in the established service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board is remanding the case to conduct additional development regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and to consider whether service connection for PTSD can be established based on fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. The substance abuse claim will also be deferred until further adjudication of the PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify whether Lt. Colonel H., a Lieutenant Colonel stationed at Zweibrucken, Germany in July 1980, was in the Veteran's Command and if an incident report of sexual assault was filed.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which the Board finds is etiologically related to his active service. The claim for PTSD is not addressed as it was remanded and will be handled in a separate decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses related to a gastric bypass surgery performed in October 2000 is granted, as the surgery was deemed necessary due to a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 19, 2001 (for PTSD) and March 29, 2005 (for onychomycosis and tinea pedis) have been denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran filed a claim before these effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain additional medical records and to attempt to corroborate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors. The claims will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 3, 2005 and continues to meet the criteria for this rating.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is being remanded due to insufficient information provided regarding the alleged stressors. Additional development is needed to corroborate these events and determine if they are sufficient to establish PTSD.