PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder, and Depressive Disorder) that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been productive of symptoms including nightmares, intrusive thoughts, increased startle response, flashbacks, anxiety, social avoidance, survivor guilt, hypervigilance, irritability, and depression. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas and with an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to her service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral inguinal hernia repair, as well as his claim of entitlement to a TDIU. The Veteran is also required to provide new evidence to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, left knee shell fragment wound residuals, tinnitus, degenerative changes of the left knee, and varicosities of the left leg, render him unemployable. The Board has determined that his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and providing VCAA notice regarding the TDIU claim. A VA psychiatric examination is also required to assess the current severity of PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Board denied an extra-schedular evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and a schedular evaluation in excess of 70 percent prior to September 8, 2008 for PTSD. The claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD prior to October 1, 2010 and in excess of 70 percent beginning on that date has been granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his current condition is due to in-service stressors and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and the relationship between his current psychiatric disabilities and service. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about specific dates of events, such as being detained by police in Panama or witnessing a civilian death in Somalia.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against her claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and depressive disorder not otherwise specified are related to his service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder has been rated at 70 percent before January 2, 2008 and higher than 70 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no credible evidence to support his claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear diagnosis of PTSD and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the date of claim, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, effective prior to March 16, 2010.