PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which he attributes to a helicopter crash during his military service in Korea. The Board has ordered additional development of the claim due to new information provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms no worse than daily nightmares and intrusive thoughts, constricted affect, occasional panic attacks, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's head injury residuals are service-connected and her acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is also service-connected based on direct evidence of a link between current symptoms and in-service events.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 6, 2008 is dismissed as moot due to the restoration of the 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and a back disability. The Veteran's reported stressors were not verified, and his acquired psychiatric disorders are not etiologically related to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected PTSD. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and alcohol dependence. The claims were based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and treatment records but did not involve any specific in-service stressors or exposure to known risk factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions due to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric conditions, knee and shoulder injuries, and a stomach disability. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the issues of increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, as well as service connection for arthritis and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran will be provided with new VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and to provide etiological opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and any newly diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with related depressive symptoms and alcohol dependence is currently rated at a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is likely attributable to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, ulcers, and erectile dysfunction are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, effective October 7, 2007. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's request for a video conference hearing before the Board has been granted, and his appeal is remanded to allow this hearing to be scheduled at the Oakland, California RO.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD was granted, effective from the date of the grant. The Veteran also received service connection for all acquired psychiatric disabilities in addition to PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his request for a Board hearing, and before the decision was promulgated, he requested to withdraw from appellate review of his claim for staged increased ratings for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety have been granted service connection, effective October 30, 2007. The initial disability rating for PTSD is set at 50 percent.