PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as anger, depression, sleep disturbance, isolation behaviors, hypervigilance, startle response, impaired short-term memory and concentration, conflicted/blunted affect, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores ranging from 52-55. This rating is considered appropriate given the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded it to the RO/AMC for additional development, including verification of a claimed stressor.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, increased ratings for mitral valve prolapse and chronic kidney disease, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence related to his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed to his hypertension, which in turn was a significant condition contributing to his death. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, bilateral foot disability, and a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are all granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100% effective July 12, 2006, and he is now entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a higher rating for his low back disability, and the derivative claim for TDIU are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Headaches. The claim for Headaches is pending as a new issue has been identified.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as frequent nightmares, flashbacks related to Vietnam service, hypervigilance, insomnia, intrusive thoughts, and auditory hallucinations. These symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to their moderate impact on social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder, so the case is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the other issues. The Veteran's left ear disorder (other than hearing loss) did not have an onset in service, and there is no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder that meets the criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility was denied because VA facilities were available and feasible to provide the necessary treatment during his condition's stabilization period.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD and depression were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no link between current symptoms and an inservice stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as his diagnosis of PTSD was based on a stressor related to his military duties during World War II.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current PTSD or other psychiatric disorder is related to his in-service right knee injury.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating since August 3, 2010. Prior to that date, the Veteran was rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating. The Board has granted this initial rating as of October 30, 2006 onward.