PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The claim will be rescheduled at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. His other psychiatric conditions, including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, were present prior to his service and are not considered aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD are all service-connected as they were incurred during his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not experience continuous symptoms of a mental health condition since service separation and concluding that his current diagnosis is unrelated to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 30 percent effective the date of claim, and his abdominal SFW residuals were granted a 10 percent rating. The left foot/ankle SFW residuals also received a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD prevents him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, which is the basis for his TDIU claim. The Board finds that the evidence shows significant social dysfunction and mental challenges due to PTSD, leading to a finding in favor of granting TDIU.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 1, 2002 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence indicating that he filed a formal or informal claim before this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with VA regulations, and thus service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death while his appeal was pending.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective August 2, 2001, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence showing a psychosis within one year of his separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with general anxiety disorder is shown to be manifested by a depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, anxiety, hypervigilance, panic attacks occurring more than once a week, suicidal ideation, speech intermittently illogical, obscure or irrelevant, impaired impulse control, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, poor concentration, irritability, persistent delusions or hallucinations and memory loss for names of close relatives or own name. His symptomatology is productive of total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran is granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with general anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a possible material change in his PTSD symptoms since the last examination, and additional private treatment records are needed.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 10% prior to April 11, 2011 and increased to 30% as of that date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disability, hearing loss of the right ear, and tinnitus. The issues were found to be not supported by clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions preexisted service or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, effective June 29, 2007. The claim for a higher initial rating remains pending as the Veteran has not experienced the more severe symptoms required for a higher evaluation.