PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 30, 2009. The Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD and awarded TDIU due to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board found that his PTSD symptoms warranted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and issuing a Statement of the Case on his claim for an increased evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of recent changes in regulations regarding PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues are whether he should receive a temporary total evaluation due to bilateral hearing loss and if his PTSD warrants a disability rating higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran was awarded a 100% disability evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder effective from April 25, 2003. The appellant's claim of entitlement to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance Benefits was received on November 25, 2008. VA cannot pay benefits prior to November 25, 2007 due to the one-year rule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reports of witnessing traumatic events in service are consistent and credible, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his disability effectively rendered him totally impaired and unable to work since he filed his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The issue of an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for lumbar muscular strain with degenerative disc disease is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision and will be remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 1, 2009, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective August 30, 2004. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Veteran's conversion hysteria with somatization and anxiety, currently rated as PTSD, has been found to be productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, occasional suicidal and homicidal ideation, auditory hallucinations, restricted and anxious affect, mumbled speech, hypervigilance, and irritability without evidence of total occupational and social impairment. For the period prior to November 15, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient response from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's behavior after August 5, 1964. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence and consider statements by family members.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing problems, lumbar spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), liver disorder, Achilles tendon injury, and skin disorder are all denied. The appeals were not decided on a direct basis but rather based on presumptive exposure to herbicides during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and consideration of the Veteran's TDIU claim. The issues on appeal are limited to entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by suicidal/homicidal ideations, impaired impulse control, episodes of verbal/physical violence and abuse, and an inability to retain employment prior to August 1, 2000. A 100% evaluation for PTSD has been granted effective from August 1, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in August 2011. The Veteran is required to be notified of the new examination and given an opportunity to present for it.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective from April 11, 2003.