PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by symptoms that approximated total occupational and social impairment prior to March 10, 2010.,While the Veteran's PTSD alone did not render him unemployable, his psychotic disorder, NOS, caused significant impairment in his ability to work.

The Board is remanding the case to address both the earlier effective date claim and the CUE claim regarding the March 1997 rating decision. The earlier effective date claim will be adjudicated in conjunction with the CUE claim.

The Board has determined that there is credible evidence of in-service stressors related to the Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. Pensacola, which supports a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective December 27, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service and granted service connection. The Veteran also has a diagnosed skin condition (dermatitis) which was found to be incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted, with a 30% rating for PTSD effective from April 25, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board finds that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than generalized anxiety disorder, to include PTSD. Therefore, service connection for such disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of such symptomatology as sleeping problems, anxiety, problems with crowds, and panic attacks. However, the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of left hip stress fracture is granted. The issue of service connection for psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's claim to reopen his earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive episode, obsessive compulsive disorder, and PTSD as a matter of law because it is legally barred.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for his service-connected PTSD, which was granted on February 17, 2009. The case has been remanded to address the issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the January 1995 rating decision that awarded him a 30% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia or another acquired psychiatric disorder excluding PTSD and a stomach ulcer, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The RO previously denied these claims in February 1962.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's chronic headaches, disability of the pancreas as secondary to substance abuse, disability of the bowel as secondary to substance abuse, and disability of the liver as secondary to substance abuse. Service connection for heart disease (including congestive heart failure) remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to insufficient evidence to verify his claimed in-service stressors. The case is now pending and will be reviewed again after further development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.