PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The VA has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the appellant's PTSD, effective from May 24, 2007. The current combined rating is 100 percent due to service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since his claim was granted in July 2008. The rating is based on the symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity, including difficulty with social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD results in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical records. The Veteran's claims for psychiatric, skin, hearing loss, low back, hip, and knee disorders are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his alleged in-service stressors and determine if he served in Vietnam. The issues of service connection for diabetes, basal cell carcinoma, a bilateral arm disorder, a bilateral foot disability, eye disabilities, and hypertension will be reconsidered after further development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his reported in-service stressors and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, and he was granted a 10 percent rating for his nasal septum disability effective February 4, 2005. The Veteran does not have a compensable rating prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA records, and deck logs from his ship during his claimed in-service stressor event.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be causally related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for weakness and dizziness has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is pending, but there is no current diagnosis of a gastrointestinal disability in the record. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) remains pending. Tinnitus was not diagnosed in the record. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability is also pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.304.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a comprehensive VA mental disorders examination to determine if the Veteran meets clinical criteria for PTSD and whether his symptoms are related to claimed in-service stressors. The examiner is also asked to provide an opinion on the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, meeting the schedular criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is required, including obtaining SSA records and attempting to verify the stressor involving the bombing of tanks at Elgin Air Force Base during an exercise in September-December 1948.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, which meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating. However, he is not rendered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities alone, as his back problems are also significant and limit his employment opportunities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, specifically involving Russian planes flying over an aircraft carrier he served on.