PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and adjudicating the service connection claim for alcohol and drug dependence.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder is currently evaluated at 50 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam, and thus granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability and concluded that the Appellant's low back disability is not related to service. The claims for both conditions were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective August 5, 2011. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he experienced in-service personal assaults and harassment that could support a diagnosis of PTSD. The claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial evaluation for PTSD and the effective date of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating higher than 70 percent, as his symptoms were characterized by social and occupational impairment but without total impairment in thought process and communication.

The Board has determined that a kidney disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and its incurrence or aggravation during such service may not be presumed. The Veteran's psychiatric disability (PTSD) is also denied as there is no evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety, is granted as his in-service stressor of witnessing two of his fellow soldiers being brought back to the base, dead, with their bodies mutilated, is related to 'fear of hostile military or terrorist activity' and supports a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, sleep disorder, headaches, breathing problems (asthma), bilateral shoulder disabilities, ankle disabilities, and knee disabilities, all of which were claimed as due to Persian Gulf War undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, left hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood). The Veteran's right foot and left foot disabilities are also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on his combat experience. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and skin disorder of both feet due to in-service noise exposure and other factors.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to May 21, 2008 and at 50 percent from that date. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his PTSD.,The Veteran also seeks an effective date prior to February 1, 2010, for the award of a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his in-service stressors and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent prior to December 2, 2008. The Board found that the evidence supported a rating of 30 percent from November 13, 2007 to December 2, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. A 70 percent rating has been granted since December 3, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a new claim prior to July 25, 2008.