PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by severe impairment of his ability to establish and maintain effective relationships or psychoneurotic symptoms so severe as to cause severe impairment in work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood prior to April 16, 2004. Effective from April 16, 2004, the Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no credible corroborating evidence of the alleged personal assault stressors. The claim for increased rating for left first metatarsal fracture resulted in a 20% rating being granted since April 26, 2002.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board has determined that a disability rating of 30 percent is warranted based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran currently suffers from PTSD, which is related to stressful events he experienced as a medical specialist in Vietnam during his active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is due to his fear of hostile military activity in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War, and service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA PTSD examination to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected PTSD, and for obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional private medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by symptoms such as hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, nightmares, irritability, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships. However, the evidence does not support a higher disability rating due to lack of impairment in most areas or total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the recent treatment records. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have improved, but they still cause moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was incurred as a result of an in-service personal assault. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable at the time of his death, and thus he was not entitled to a TDIU for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability alone does not render him unemployable, and his current 50% rating adequately compensates for his employment difficulties.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA and non-VA treatment records, as well as a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating, and the Board finds that this level of disability does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective February 23, 2006. The evidence shows that the disability results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

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 examination. The case will be readjudicated after these steps are completed.