PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor related to being falsely accused of rape, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for any psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent since September 11, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, as well as for updated information regarding his employment history.

The Veteran's appeals for increased PTSD rating and TDIU have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective April 15, 2011. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a verified or verifiable service stressor and therefore, cannot establish service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting an initial evaluation of 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to November 20, 2007 caused reduced reliability and productivity.,From January 1, 2008 through August 5, 2010, the Veteran experienced total occupational impairment with social impairment in most areas.,As of August 6, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues regarding lumbosacral strain rating and PTSD effective date has been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms were found to be less severe than those warranting a higher rating, with the disability rated at 30 percent from December 17, 2007 to April 12, 2011 and then denied for further increase.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that was incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence now submitted raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and clarifying whether the Veteran applied for Social Security disability benefits. A VA psychiatric examination is also required to determine the nature and extent of any PTSD, anxiety disorder other than PTSD, mood disorder, and adjustment disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 13, 1998, for the 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and schizophrenia. The evidence does not establish that his current PTSD is related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was characterized by reduced reliability and productivity, with symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impairment in short-term and long-term memory, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships. The Veteran's condition prior to May 26, 2010, met the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, and granted it as a matter of accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD and other psychiatric disorders related to her service. The AMC is also tasked with verifying the dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spondylosis, right and left knee disabilities, tinnitus, arthritis of the shoulders and hands, a skin disability involving the toenails and feet, residuals of a fracture of the left middle finger, an eye condition, a sinus condition, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction have all been granted. The initial evaluation for type II diabetes mellitus is 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric, left hand numbness, and respiratory disabilities.