PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD according to DSM-IV criteria and his Alzheimer's-type dementia and depressive disorder NOS did not manifest within one year of service. The evidence is insufficient to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD disability warrants a 50 percent evaluation since January 10, 2009. The symptoms have not met criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent evaluation from February 26, 1998, to January 8, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is etiologically related to an in-service sexual assault, and thus service connection for PTSD as a result of personal assault has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA mental health treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD or another psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing another VA examination.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is at least 80%, and his service-connected disabilities, particularly cold injury residuals of the bilateral hands and feet, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected panic disorder and PTSD without agoraphobia was granted, but the appeals for GERD/IBS and alcoholism were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is as likely as not attributable to traumatic events during his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify stressors and obtain relevant VA treatment records, as well as Social Security Administration (SSA) decision and medical records. The initial compensable evaluation for the left great toe disability will also be addressed.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his nicotine dependence and subsequent lung cancer, which in turn caused his death. The VA physician should also determine if there was any connection between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death.

The Veteran's fatigue is attributed to sleep apnea and PTSD, which are not considered undiagnosed illnesses related to service in the Persian Gulf War. Therefore, service connection for fatigue as due to an undiagnosed illness is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the claim for service connection for PTSD. This includes verifying the appellant's reported stressors and scheduling a VA examination to determine whether he has a current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria, and if so, whether this condition was caused or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right knee disability, are found to be so disabling that he is in need of regular aid and attendance. The claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by periods of depressed mood and isolation, irritability, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, anger spells, lack of motivation, decreased energy, and mild memory loss. The Board found that the criteria for a 30 percent rating were met.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder in 2001. The Veteran submitted new evidence, but it does not relate to an unestablished fact that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including to provide the Veteran with an examination and review of the claims file by a psychiatrist so that adjudicators can determine the disability evaluation to be assigned for the period from May 17, 1971 to April 20, 2001. A supplemental statement of the case is also required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2010 VA medical examination report.,Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records from Maryview Hospital and OPM disability determinations.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to service.