PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder has been rated at 50 percent before March 30, 2010 and at 70 percent from that date. The rating agency found the symptoms to be consistent with a reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development to determine if the appellant's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to October 31, 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety and PTSD, based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors of being subjected to enemy rocket and mortar attacks. The preponderance of evidence supports this finding.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of inpatient or outpatient treatment for depression at Wilford Hall and determining whether the Veteran is receiving SSA disability benefits. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he has current psychiatric disabilities that began during service.

The Veteran was diagnosed with chronic PTSD and right eye corneal scar residuals during service, which are now granted.,Service connection for these conditions is established as they are related to in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment due to his failure to report his 1993 divorce, which resulted in an overpayment. The decision states that this constitutes bad faith and thus precludes waiver.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated based on the severity of his symptoms, with a 30 percent rating prior to May 4, 2007 and a 50 percent rating from that date onward.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with agoraphobia and anxiety is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from August 29, 2005. Residuals of surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist are rated at 10 percent, while residuals of surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist are also rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 21, 2005, for the dependency allowance for his spouse. The decision stated that the Veteran did not provide sufficient information to establish dependents within a year of receiving notification and thus was not entitled to an earlier effective date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and is remanding it to allow for further development, including verification of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a requested personal hearing. The issues of service connection are pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service exposure, and he has been granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD and major depressive disorder) remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and the initial rating for his facial scar of the left cheek was also denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, scheduling a more current VA examination, and adjudicating entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, which meets the schedular criteria for this condition. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 26, 2009. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has been reopened but remains denied. The claim for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD was not granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the initial ratings of PTSD from October 3, 2006 to September 15, 2009 and on and after September 16, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his claims under the revised regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and a review of the record.