PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

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

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, panic disorder without agoraphobia, and mood disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), finding that his symptoms are as likely as not attributable to traumatic events during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia, secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities is granted. The claims for increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his current PTSD is not due to a specific in-service stressor event separate and distinct from his own willful misconduct during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, residuals of nose fracture, bilateral knee disorder, and persistent strep throat disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he currently has PTSD and whether it is related to his in-service stressor event.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if he had any periods of Federalized National Guard service and to obtain updated medical records. His claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and chronic fatigue are currently under review.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder was rated at 30 percent before February 16, 2010. The criteria for a higher rating of 50 percent were not met as there was no evidence of flattened affect, circumstantial or stereotyped speech, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty in understanding complex commands, impairment of short- and long-term memory, impaired judgment, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, or difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder are related to an in-service personal assault. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 26, 2008 for a 100% disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied. The evidence did not show total occupational impairment.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 30, 2007 for service connection of TBI was denied. There is no indication that the Veteran submitted a formal or informal claim before this date.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 10 percent prior to October 27, 2009 and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The right ear hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD in March 2008 due to lack of credible evidence of a noncombat stressor. The Veteran's claim was reopened, but new and material evidence has not been presented since the last denial.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of all diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including whether any meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. The examiner must also provide an opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder(s), and considering the updated version of 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has ordered a remand to clarify whether the Veteran sustained an in-service sexual assault and if so, whether he currently suffers from PTSD related to that incident. Additionally, further examination is required to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorders and chronic pain syndrome or depression.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current state of his PTSD symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning, as well as for obtaining all pertinent treatment records from the Yale Outpatient Clinic since July 1, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD or other psychiatric disorders related to his military service. The left hand disability will also be evaluated in detail.