PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of such symptomatology as nightmares, recurring thoughts, depression, crying spells, and feelings of guilt. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and shrapnel wounds of the left leg, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for a compensable rating for scars on the left leg. The evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating from January 1, 2009 to June 28, 2010. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the disease process leading to his death is not attributable to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtaining service personnel records. The appeal is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent since November 24, 2008. The appeal for a higher initial rating prior to that date remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and for diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision did not address the Veteran's claim regarding his depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for a VA opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus and residuals of a traumatic brain injury, but his claim for left hand Dupuytren's contracture is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining service personnel records and mental health or counseling records. The Veteran will be afforded a VA examination to determine whether she has PTSD related to a verified stressor(s) and any other currently present acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of anxiety, intrusive thoughts, irritability, depression, social isolation, panic attacks and passive suicidal ideation, resulting in occupational and social impairment in most areas. The Board finds that the criteria for a disability rating of 70 percent but no higher have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence, including Social Security records and VA treatment records. A new VA examination will be scheduled to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was denied. The Board found that there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and thus, the diagnosis of PTSD cannot be established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and lumbosacral strain were denied. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was granted, with a rating of 30% and effective from August 30, 2007. The original denial in 1990 did not remain pending due to lack of notice.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a higher rating, and his left thumb residuals were also granted. However, service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disability.