PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including the provision of updated VA treatment records and a VA psychiatric examination to assess his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective January 24, 2003, the date he filed his most recent claim. The previous denial in December 1992 was final due to lack of appeal within one year.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since June 2, 2010, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service-connected PTSD and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the schedular criteria. The disability results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and a right eye disorder due to additional medical inquiry.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent prior to December 1, 2008 and since then at 70 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU as his symptoms have resulted in occupational impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the appellant's anxiety disorder, diagnosed as Anxiety Disorder NOS, was permanently aggravated by his military service. The Board finds in favor of the appellant on this issue.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of PTSD based on VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic stomach disorder is denied as there is no evidence that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to September 21, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 1, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD symptomatology has included various distressing symptoms, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his disability does not cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The evidence shows that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depression, is related to his active service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as VA is precluded from granting such a date due to the undisputed facts in this case, which are that the effective date assigned by the RO was consistent with the March 2008 Board decision reopening his claim and assigning entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and he is presumed to have developed Type II Diabetes Mellitus due to herbicide exposure during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The low back disorder claim requires additional development as it involves a VA compensation examination and obtaining private treatment records.