PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of his claim for increase. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD with substance abuse was granted a 50% rating effective September 3, 2009. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to missing medical records and a need for an examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, major depression, and anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has granted a higher evaluation to 100 percent effective from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his fear of hostile military activity during service, and the Board finds that he has a current diagnosis of PTSD. The erectile dysfunction claim will be remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating. The right knee and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors.

For the period September 23, 2005 to April 24, 2006, the appellant's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Between April 25, 2006 and March 31, 2010, the appellant's PTSD met the criteria for a 50% evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for PTSD was denied. The VA Regional Office (RO) in Seattle, Washington granted service connection for PTSD with an evaluation of 10 percent effective November 20, 2006 and later increased the rating to 30 percent effective November 20, 2006. However, the Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating remains denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD or another acquired psychiatric disability that is related to service, including conceded in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including obtaining VA mental health treatment records since March 2006. The case will be re-adjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new claims of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, as well as issues regarding physical assault allegations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA psychiatric examination, and scheduling a VA examination for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms that cause occupational impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and the ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress. The criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent have not been met at any time during the claim period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and obtaining outpatient treatment records. The issue of service connection for hepatitis C will be provided with a statement of the case (SOC).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded. The case will be further developed by obtaining additional medical records and attempting to verify in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence prior to June 15, 2005 that could be construed as a formal or informal claim.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen a final disallowed claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD are remanded for further development.