PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA PTSD examination and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 22, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating but denied it as his impairment did not reach total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination to assess the severity of his psychiatric disability. The issues include seeking a higher rating for PTSD and determining if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of seeking an initial disability rating for PTSD greater than 30 percent has been remanded due to the submission of new private medical evidence. The RO will review this evidence and consider its impact on the Veteran's claim.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and PTSD, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is presumed for these conditions due to exposure in Vietnam or Thailand during military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The impairment from PTSD more closely approximates deficiencies in most areas than total impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to associate all relevant VA treatment records. The issues include increased ratings for PTSD and shell fragment wound, as well as service connection for TBI.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim to reopen the gunshot wound and neuropathy claim was granted, but he did not receive a specific rating assigned or effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted and rated at 30 percent from October 17, 2002 to November 13, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder was not manifested by total occupational and social impairment during the period from December 1, 2005 to September 21, 2011.,Since September 22, 2011, the Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder has been manifested by total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of symptoms such as inconsistent hygiene, heightened anger and irritability, nightmares, anxiety, depression, occasional panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, memory impairment, obsessive and ritualistic behavior, and periodic self-destructive thoughts. The Board finds that the criteria for a disability rating of 70 percent have been met.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, schizophrenia, insomnia, and a psychotic disorder, were first manifested during service and have persisted since then. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of a reported stressor incident and obtaining VA and private medical records. He also needs to undergo examinations for his knee disabilities and mental health condition.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD with depression and bilateral cataracts, as well as to ensure that all relevant medical records are considered in making these determinations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at a 100 percent disability rating effective October 31, 2007, due to total occupational impairment caused by the condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from August 13, 2007 through July 19, 2009. For the period after July 20, 2009, his condition did not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent.