PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with reduced reliability and productivity but do not meet the criteria for more severe impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development and adjudication, including consideration of whether 'staged' rating of his PTSD is appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal is being returned to the RO for further development and consideration of his increased rating claim for migraine headaches, as well as his service connection claim for PTSD. The Veteran will be provided a new VA examination for his headache disorder and his outstanding VA treatment records will be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling another VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected headaches associated with PTSD. The case will be reviewed and readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 21, 2008. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms and impairment in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of symptoms such as a depressed mood, anxiety, weekly panic attacks, and nightmares, resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic PTSD is etiologically related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus. The issues of entitlement to a TDIU have been referred to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and additional development is required before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, avoidance, isolation, panic attacks, auditory hallucinations, irritability, and paranoia. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated as 30 percent disabling prior to May 16, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms warranted a higher evaluation of 70 percent effective from May 16, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain outstanding VA outpatient treatment records and to afford the Veteran a VA examination for his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's in-service stressors have been verified, and his lay testimony alone may establish the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor. Therefore, the Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms and alcohol dependence were treated during hospitalization from May 27, 2008 to June 19, 2008. The VA has granted a temporary total rating for this period based on the treatment provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, and traumatic amputation of the fingers, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 26, 1997 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was originally filed on that date and his stressors were verified by newly submitted service records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 70 percent, and he is found to be unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.