PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The issue of service connection for allergic rhinitis is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, sexual disorder, and PTSD; and chronic sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service. The Veteran's claims for hemorrhoids, rash, stomach disability, and impotency are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, or for an initial compensable rating for left shoulder osteoarthritis. His hearing loss was not related to military noise exposure, but his tinnitus is etiologically related to service. PTSD and chronic depression were not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's polysubstance dependence disorder is service-connected as it was caused by self-medication for his PTSD. However, no separate acquired psychiatric disorder has been found to be related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's PTSD manifested by depression, irritability, sleeplessness, and some occupational and social impairment warranted a disability evaluation of 50 percent, but not total disability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 6, 1991, but no earlier, for the assignment of a schedular rating of 100 percent for service-connected PTSD with depression has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder prior to June 9, 2008 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported stressors did not involve fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and thus could not be verified. The Veteran was denied service connection for PTSD, as there is no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, that can be causally linked to an event or incident in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination at his nursing home location to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on his employability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and corroboration of stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disorder and granted it, but did not assign a specific rating or effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD. The medical evidence supports a diagnosis of mood disorder and links this condition to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD. The Board has ordered additional development, including scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination and obtaining recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran is found to have PTSD and an anxiety disorder, both of which are presumed due to service. The skin condition claim was not addressed as it did not involve a presumptive exposure basis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of heat stroke has been granted. The issue regarding an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as stress and PTSD) is also addressed, with the decision pending.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to her military service. The case is therefore REMANDED for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to resultant helplessness.