PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The evidence showed verified in-service combat-related stressors and a current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss, but the status of this issue is unknown.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD should be remanded to allow for further development, including obtaining verification of a typhoon in Vietnam and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and chronic cough have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for PTSD are set at 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's claim is now on the merits.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service, but denied his claim for PTSD as there is no credible evidence of a stressor related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with proper duty-to-assist notice. A VA examination will be conducted to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and there are no current malaria residuals. As a result, the claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for malaria are both denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatrist or psychologist to provide an opinion regarding whether his reported stressors are adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD and if his symptoms are related to those stressors. The Veteran will also be provided with records from any recent psychiatric treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including depression and PTSD, are related to her military service. The claim for migraine headaches secondary to a service-connected condition is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to June 4, 2007. The symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they primarily involved reduced reliability and productivity in work and social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated medical records, as well as consideration of whether staged ratings and/or an extraschedular evaluation are warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating prior to March 30, 2007. The Veteran was employed full-time at that time and there is no evidence indicating that his PTSD symptoms resulted in termination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, and the effective date for service connection remains January 23, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by symptoms such as nightmares, intrusive thoughts, social avoidance, hyperarousal, hypervigilance, depressed mood, impaired memory, difficulty sleeping, restricted affect, and poor judgment. For the entire initial rating period, these symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that his current diagnosis is linked to an in-service sexual assault. The appeal was reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since October 15, 2004. From December 17, 2009, the rating was increased to 50 percent. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.