PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his employability.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims of in-service personal assaults and sexual harassment, leading to a denial of service connection for PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not resulting in total occupational and social impairment. The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of stressors and a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by occasional nightmares, social isolation, depression, anxiety, mildly restricted affect, and mild short-term memory loss. The Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent rating are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD or an anxiety disorder due to service-related stressors. The claim for service connection for left knee DJD and a separate rating for left leg numbness/radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran had a service-connected psychiatric condition, including PTSD, and whether it contributed to his death. The appeal for burial allowance will be deferred as it is inextricably intertwined with the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and additional evidence collection. The issues of rating PTSD and TDIU are part of the same claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records, including those from Vet Centers and private providers.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression is pending due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic in-service condition or continuous symptomatology post-service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as anxiety disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse are not related to his military service or any inservice head injury.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen his August 1982 RO administrative decision, which held that injuries incurred in a December 7, 1980 motorcycle accident were not incurred in line of duty. The Board also determined that there is no direct link between the Veteran's current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in mild to moderate symptoms, including nightmares occurring about six times per week and some sleep impairment. The RO assigned a 30 percent disability rating for the period from June 21, 2008 to February 23, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for left knee arthroplasty and TDIU were denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's left knee disability, following total knee replacement in 2006, did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation based on ankylosis or limitation of motion.