PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is due to an in-service sexual assault during basic training.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, but the effective dates of these decisions are not specified. The Veteran was also denied new and material evidence claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety reaction with a history of PTSD and multiple physical impairments, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board grants the TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective January 27, 2005. The effective date is set based on the fact that she became unemployable due to PTSD within one year prior to July 30, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining correctional facility medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The issue remains whether he is entitled to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral chronic otitis media and PTSD due to the lack of current disability evidence.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, heart disability, kidney disability, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatitis C. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and his disabilities were not related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective July 8, 1994, and he is currently rated at the highest disability rating (100%) due to his total occupational impairment caused by PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service accident, but his myeloproliferative syndrome/myelodysplastic syndrome does not have onset or cause during service and is therefore denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since April 3, 2008. The Board found that the disability has resulted in mild to moderate social and occupational impairment due primarily to sleep problems with insomnia and nightmares, depressed mood, anxiety, anger problems, and suspiciousness.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, which he claims is related to his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the stressors claimed by the Veteran and to determine if any of these stressors are consistent with his service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records, as well as further development of his PTSD claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia are causally or etiologically related to his military service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically bipolar disorder and PTSD, was rated at 50% effective from May 3, 2007. This rating is considered appropriate given the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be sufficiently severe as to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with his education and occupational experience. He is therefore granted TDIU.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's appeal for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his PTSD and service-connected disabilities' impact on his ability to work.