PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms that include depression (flattened affect), and disturbances of mood, but no such symptoms as irregular speech, weekly panic attacks, difficulty in understanding complex commands, impairment of short-term or long-term memory, impaired judgment, or impaired abstract thinking; the evidence shows that his PTSD produced no more than occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service parachute malfunction, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the credibility of his in-service stressor claims and to determine if his service-connected PTSD is related to his long-standing opiate dependence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The VA will seek clarification from the July 2010 VA examiners and determine if any other acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and is granting it, as new evidence has been presented that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence. The primary issue is whether his current sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and PTSD.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on October 3, 2007 at Flambeau Hospital are approved because the treatment was necessary due to a service-connected PTSD and federal facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, as his diagnoses were not based on a verifiable in-service stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction as a result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his military service, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, anxiety, anger outbursts, irritability, depression, extreme sleeplessness, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores ranging from 35 to 55; it is not manifested by total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold percentage requirement for TDIU, but his PTSD and other conditions prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied. His bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spine disability claims were also denied, but his thoracolumbar spine disability claim resulted in a grant of an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not total occupational and social impairment. The initial schedular evaluation for PTSD is granted at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 23, 2004.,Since May 7, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, related to service. The Veteran's claims for low back and rough skin disorders were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the provision of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA psychiatric outpatient treatment reports and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.