PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and found that his current psychological problems are not related to his military service. The reduction of his bilateral knee disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder are related to his active duty service, including his experiences during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD due to MST and MDD secondary to PTSD, have been confirmed and are service-connected.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective January 20, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities. However, there is no medical evidence specifically addressing the impact of his irritable bowel syndrome on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a seizure disorder was denied. The Board found that the preexisting psychiatric disorder did not aggravate during service and was not caused by service. For the seizure disorder, there is no evidence of its onset in service or any other presumptive basis.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating from March 21, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected posttraumatic headaches due to TBI and PTSD with insomnia and cognitive disorder, not otherwise specified, due to TBI were granted. The rating for right shoulder tendonitis was also granted, but the claim for a higher evaluation prior to March 6, 2008, is denied. The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 3, 2010, for the award of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to meet the criteria for a rating of 70 percent, effective prior to October 1, 2010.

The Veteran's initial PTSD rating was increased from 30 percent to 70 percent effective January 26, 2007. The Board is considering whether the Veteran should receive a higher rating for his PTSD prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and MDD, that is due to service. The initial diagnosis of a psychiatric disability was not until June 1996, and there is no medically supportable diagnosis of PTSD based on verified service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as near-continuous depression and anxiety, strained relationships with family and friends, constant irritability, social isolation, and avoidance. The disability results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining supporting evidence of stressors reported by the Veteran and a VA examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric condition had its onset in service or is otherwise related to a disease or injury in active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The evidence now shows that the Veteran experienced a stressor related to his military service in Vietnam and was diagnosed with PTSD as a result. As such, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, has been characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, depression, frequent panic attacks, social avoidance, passive suicidal ideation, nightmares, hypervigilance, impaired concentration, insomnia, and feelings of detachment from others. This more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating under DC 9400.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, impaired judgment, and difficulty establishing effective relationships.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder. The underlying claims for right knee disorder and TDIU are being remanded for further development.