PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and determine whether hypertension is secondary to or directly related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The underlying issue of service connection on the merits is addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by total occupational and social impairment from December 10, 2007, to December 17, 2007. From December 18, 2007, to January 30, 2009, the disability was manifested by flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which represents the highest possible benefit for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to March 27, 2009 resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board found that these symptoms met the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and psychiatric disabilities are related to service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have PTSD due to his military service and there was no link between current symptoms and an inservice stressor. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD for accrued benefits purposes is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, as well as his claims for increased ratings for a left shoulder scar and arthritis of the left shoulder due to shrapnel wound with retained foreign body are all granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities) do not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Depressive Disorder is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2008 VA examination, which did not provide a diagnosis or etiological opinion for any psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD. The Veteran needs to be afforded another VA examination to determine his current diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hyperthyroidism, sarcoidosis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression and PTSD) were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left patellofemoral pain syndrome to include as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been presented, but further development is needed before reaching a decision on the merits of the reopened claim. Additionally, the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders (including posttraumatic stress disorder), sleep and memory problems, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the current diagnosis or diagnoses of his claimed condition(s) and their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective July 7, 2008. The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a restoration of a 50% disability rating, effective from when the reduction was originally proposed.