PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board denied service connection for a left eye condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the claim was not filed within one year of his discharge from active duty, and thus no earlier effective date is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of evidence related to personal assault stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was received on February 27, 2001. As there is no evidence of a prior informal or formal claim before this date, the effective date cannot be earlier than February 27, 2001.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, hair loss, right temple skin disorder (claimed as sore), PTSD due to an in-service personal assault, and other psychological disorders. The appeal is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran claims that his right temple skin disorder is related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. He also seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder and hair loss. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding these issues.,The Veteran asserts that he has hair loss due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service. He also claims PTSD as the result of an in-service personal assault. Other conditions are also on appeal. The appeal is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran contends that his PTSD is related to a personal assault during service and seeks service connection for this condition, along with other psychological disorders. The appeal is remanded for further development.,The Veteran claims service connection for a psychological disorder other than PTSD (anxiety and depression), nephrolithiasis, residuals of a circumcision, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an eye disorder. The appeal is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Other conditions are also on appeal. The appeal is remanded for further development.,The Veteran claims service connection for an eye disorder. Other conditions are also on appeal. The appeal is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran asserts that he has residuals of a circumcision, including erectile dysfunction. Other conditions are also on appeal. The appeal is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a specific stressor claimed by the Veteran for PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after additional development, including verification of his alleged attack during basic training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, specifically PTSD and cold injury residuals of both feet. The weight gain contributing to his death is attributed to Prednisone treatment for gout.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is granted due to the establishment of a link between her fear of hostile military activity and her diagnosed PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 6, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran's occupational and social impairment from his PTSD most nearly approximated reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, dysthymia and adjustment disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of PTSD and attributing depression to post-service substance abuse.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an Administrative Decision regarding his service from December 1983 to April 1989 and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD, with anxiety and cognitive disorders, has resulted in total occupational and social impairment since the effective date of service connection. The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dysfunctional uterine bleeding and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depression are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for this rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and he is entitled to a 10% evaluation for recurrent tinnitus. The claims for left ankle and leg disabilities have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD does not result in more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including, and similar to, impairment of memory, judgment, and abstract thinking, disturbance of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. Therefore, the criteria for a disability rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by occupational and social impairment reflecting deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations. The preponderance of the evidence shows reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms like flattened affect, circumstantial speech, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective relationships.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, cardiovascular disease, and low back disability were denied as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or injury that could be linked to his current conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of the nature of his incarceration and to determine if he was incarcerated due to a felony conviction, which would affect the overpayment calculation.