PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 29, 2007. The appeal is granted for this rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 29, 2009, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was granted. The effective date is April 3, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including a VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected PTSD and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a TDIU examination. The case will be reviewed to determine if referral for extraschedular consideration of the TDIU claim is warranted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to further evaluate his claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted with a 50% evaluation effective January 14, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining all pertinent VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity between May 29, 2008, and December 9, 2009. Therefore, an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is not warranted during this period.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to her allegation of military sexual trauma. The AMC/RO is instructed to provide a corrective VCAA notice letter, obtain VA treatment records from specific time periods, and schedule a comprehensive VA PTSD examination by a psychiatrist.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and obtain relevant unit histories. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine whether he suffers from PTSD due to verified stressors, as well as for an audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as including a number of symptoms of PTSD but not meeting the criteria for PTSD and diagnosed as an anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, was found to be incurred in active service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy, was not diagnosed with PTSD while serving on active duty, and any currently present PTSD is not attributable to a verified in-service stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be established.

The Board found that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination and there is insufficient evidence to establish that she currently suffers from a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with PTSD was rated at 50 percent from June 24, 2004 to March 1, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that he did not have a valid in-service stressor to support his diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service and may have been aggravated by a pre-existing personality disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, thus allowing the Veteran's original claim to proceed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, and his lumbosacral osteoarthritis rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to June 8, 2009 and not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating from that date forward.