PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of his service and readjudication of the pension claim. The issues of service connection are also pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, finding that no formal or informal claims were filed between May 1997 and August 2004. The provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c) do not apply to this case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran currently has such a condition.,Ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred as a result of exposure to herbicides during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with postconcussive headaches is rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, effective June 30, 2000.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in moderate impairment prior to July 24, 2008. From October 3, 2009 onwards, his PTSD caused severe symptoms but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 24, 2009. Prior to that date, the Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his PTSD. The Board also found that he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to February 24, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to locate inpatient treatment records and obtain stressor verification.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring all development has been conducted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a depressive disorder was denied as his psychiatric symptoms did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, and there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 9, 2009, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the claim for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis or etiology related to his active service. The claim for PTSD was not addressed due to the complexity and need for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II are currently rated at the maximum available evaluations. The effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II is established as March 11, 2009.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for PTSD was granted at 70 percent, and the Board finds that this level of disability does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is shown to have been manifested by symptoms including sleep impairment, irritability, depression, sleep difficulties, nightmares, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response; however, these symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as they do not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the highest possible rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The evidence shows significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are service-connected, with the PTSD being presumed due to his Gulf War service. The low back disability is not service-connected.

The Veteran does not have a service-connectable psychiatric disorder and the reported symptoms have not been objectively verified, leading to denial of his claim.

The Board has denied reopening of the previously-denied claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, multiple substance and alcohol abuse, residuals of Agent Orange exposure, headaches, chronic bronchitis, and mood disorder. The evidence received since the previous denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.