PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. A VA examination by a psychiatrist will also be conducted to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and related secondary claims, including alcohol abuse disorder, gastrointestinal disability, and headaches. The decision was based on the absence of a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his reported stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination. The focus will be on determining if any current psychiatric disability is causally related to military service, specifically the verified witnessing of a soldier's death while fast-rope exiting a helicopter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred during service due to an in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from April 22, 2002 to his death. The claim for an increased rating was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. His combined disability rating remains at 80%.

For the period from April 4, 2000 to April 27, 2005, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,From April 28, 2005 to September 29, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD caused more significant occupational and social impairment, affecting most areas of his life.,As of April 28, 2005, the Veteran's PTSD did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression was initially granted and rated at 30 percent effective April 19, 2004. The RO later changed the effective date to July 22, 2004 when his claim for service connection was received by the RO.

The Veteran's current calluses, right foot, are related to service and the Board finds them to be related to his in-service corns. The Veteran also has a thoracolumbar spine disability that is at least as likely as not related to service. However, there is no evidence of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disability due to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 1, 2005. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as anxiety, anger, nightmares, flashbacks, moderate sleep impairment, occasional suicidal ideation, hypervigilance, preference for solitude, fluctuant energy levels, daily use of prescribed medications, and GAF scores ranging from 60 to 51.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis and nasal polyps), and tension headaches (claimed as migraine headaches) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be attributable to his active military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and notification to the Veteran regarding his TDIU claim. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of November 9, 2004. The original denial in February 2005 was based on the lack of a verified in-service stressor, but new evidence from October 1965 established that the Veteran received the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), which is considered sufficient to concede an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for PTSD and Lisfranc fracture were successful, but the claim for left ankle sprain remains denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD is granted, based on the receipt of unit history records that confirmed his reported stressor events during service and/or participation in combat.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, do not render him unable to care for his daily needs or protect himself from the hazards incident to his environment. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person.