PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance or is housebound due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at a 50 percent rating from April 10, 2008 to May 8, 2011, based on symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, and difficulty in understanding complex commands.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with dysthymia and personality disorder did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to March 23, 2006. The disability was found to result in occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decreased work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood, previously rated as PTSD, has been found to cause total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and migraine headaches. The Veteran's claims were previously considered, but new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim for a psychiatric disability. Migraine headaches were also found not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for PTSD due to lack of verified in-service stressors and insufficient medical nexus.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 100 percent evaluation effective April 3, 2007. The appeal for TDIU is moot due to the assignment of a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran does not have a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, or panic disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's PTSD and its effects on his memory problems, as well as differentiate between the effects of service-connected PTSD and nonservice-connected TBI residuals. The case will be remanded for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was not diagnosed in accordance with DSM-IV criteria, and the Board finds that he does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.,His acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and an adjustment disorder with anxiety, including depression, is not related to service. The psychosis did not manifest itself within one year of service.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder pain is caused by a strain and his arthritis in either shoulder did not manifest itself within one year of service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, has been granted due to credible supporting evidence of an in-service assault.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disability, tinnitus, and tingling and numbness of upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a new VA examination for his PTSD and sleep apnea claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but not reduced reliability and productivity. The disability picture caused by the appellant's PTSD is not so unusual as to render the application of the regular schedular rating provisions impractical.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board previously denied this claim in November 2008, and it is final.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertensive heart disease and hypertension, as well as his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, are found to be the result of an in-service stressor. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Forsyth Memorial Hospital on February 2 and 3, 2006 due to a lack of prior authorization from VA. The treatment was deemed unauthorized as it did not follow up with previously authorized care.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.