PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining unit history and conducting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is related to in-service stressors. The claim will be adjudicated under the current version of 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(3).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his PTSD disability rating was granted, with the effective date set at March 16, 2006. The issue of service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain private treatment records and VA examination reports, including a PTSD, hearing loss, and gunshot wound residuals of the left forearm examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for borderline personality disorder with histrionic personality disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder with panic attack, bipolar disorder, and major depression. The evidence received since the January 1983 rating decision includes mental health treatment records from Griffiss Air Force Base that provide a link between the Veteran's service and her current diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD has been withdrawn, and the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's accounts of his military experiences and alleged stressors were inconsistent, unreliable, and uncorroborated by any credible supporting evidence. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from January 1993. The Board denied the claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent and also denied the earlier effective date claim.

The appellant is not eligible for payment of attorney fees resulting from the May 2003 rating decision due to lack of a valid power of attorney and the VFW being the Veteran's representative during that period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a duty to assist and for a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 10 percent disability level, effective from March 2006. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at Level I.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, irritability, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, feelings of detachment, avoidance behaviors, survivor's guilt, and depression. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and service, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. This includes obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression was not shown to have been manifested by symptoms productive of impairment greater than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, resulting in a denial of increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression, was denied as there is no evidence of a service-connected disability. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the absence of a qualifying service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for the entire appeal period.