PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. The claim for increased rating for residuals of fractures of both mandibles is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 10 percent, effective October 6, 2008. The VA examiner found the Veteran to be mildly impaired in social and occupational functioning due to inadequate sleep.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, onychomycosis of the right foot, and coronary artery disease, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment since July 10, 2007.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include Major Depressive Disorder and is remanding it for further development, including a VA examination to determine if PTSD is related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings due to issues with VA's duty to assist and incomplete SSA records. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected psychophysiologic gastrointestinal (GI) reaction with mild anxiety and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder related to his military service, including PTSD and depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his experiences in the DMZ during service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially evaluated at 30 percent prior to June 22, 2011, and later increased to 50 percent on and after June 22, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety disorder not otherwise specified and depressive disorder NOS, is related to his in-service stressor. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with dysthymic disorder was initially rated at 10 percent from April 25, 2006. The rating was increased to 30 percent effective March 18, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, HTN, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of a stressor related to service or any nexus between current conditions and service.

The Veteran became unemployable due to service-connected PTSD on December 31, 1988. The effective date for the TDIU is set at that time.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a hearing conducted by a VLJ who is no longer employed by the Board. The Veteran is entitled to have another video conference hearing at the RO.