PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires additional development, including a VA examination for PTSD and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, and it is granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA, as well as service personnel records.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability and an increased rating for the left clavicle disability. The Veteran's claims are now substantiated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rated at 20 percent or more do not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code due to his advanced educational attainments and transferable past employment skills.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not have tinnitus and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective August 15, 2003. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling since November 14, 2002. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as for partial-complex seizure disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service stressors or a link between current symptoms and any claimed events.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of the revised 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f) revisions and potential applicability to the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 27, 2006. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not been found to warrant a rating in excess of the current 50 percent assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen her previously denied claims of hearing loss and tinnitus. The right wrist ganglion cyst was not rated compensable, and no other conditions met the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the examination report and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and development of his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board will seek a definitive opinion on the relationship between any diagnosed psychiatric condition and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling, precludes him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experiences.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alopecia and urticaria, as well as his increased disability ratings for PTSD, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae were all granted. The initial disability rating for urticaria was set at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is not related to service due to lack of credible supporting evidence for an in-service stressor and his history of drug abuse.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by symptoms such as anxiety, flashbacks, intrusive memories, depressed mood, impaired sleep, irritability, hypervigilance, anger, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores ranging from 50 to 68. These symptoms demonstrated occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.