PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA psychiatrist with the claims file to answer specific questions about the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent from June 24, 2003, to October 29, 2007. The Veteran's PTSD has since been increased to 30 percent effective October 29, 2007.,PTSD remains at 30 percent from August 24, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 1998, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

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

The Board found new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, but denied the Veteran's claim based on lack of an independent verification of the claimed stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that a higher 70 percent rating is warranted due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal involves two main issues: one regarding the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, and another concerning whether a previous denial of service connection for a psychiatric disorder should be revised due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The Board has determined that these issues are intertwined and must be resolved before further consideration can be given to the earlier effective date issue.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to personal assault, but denied the claim on its merits.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence confirming a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of the recently amended regulations regarding service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder results in loss of use of a creative organ, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including stroke, migraine headaches, PTSD, hypertension, onychomycosis, hepatitis C, and joint pains. The decision is based on a finding that there was no evidence of in-service onset or association with these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus was granted effective January 17, 2005. The rating assigned is 50%.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and determine if he suffers from PTSD as a result of military service. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since August 29, 2007. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran currently has any psychiatric disorders, including depression, PTSD and anxiety, that are related to service. The examiner is instructed to provide an opinion on whether the stressor was sexual assault or combat exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is attributable to his active duty service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying the appellant's periods of active duty for training and obtaining service treatment records. The VA will also schedule a VA orthopedic examination to determine if any current back disorder is related to an incident during active duty for training, and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the appellant has PTSD as a result of verified stressors.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he is satisfied with the disability rating assigned to his PTSD.