PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, and the RO reduced his disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 40 percent to 0 percent. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and bipolar disorder) were addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to in-service personal assaults. As such, service connection is granted.

The evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and his service. The Board found that there was no credible evidence linking the diagnosis to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records.

The Veteran's PTSD disability has been rated at 50 percent since March 2, 2011. The symptoms include depressed mood, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, irritability, anxiety, avoidance behavior, and general social isolation.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further adjudication due to issues related to the Veteran's claimed in-service sexual assault and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was received on March 13, 2006. The effective date of the increased rating is set at this date.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with a joint motion, including providing proper notice regarding an in-service personal assault/trauma and obtaining a medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for PTSD, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations to address the severity of his PTSD and any stomach disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to address the character of service for his last period of active duty and to re-adjudicate the issue on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service or a service-connected disability, and awarded a compensable evaluation for diplopia of the left eye. The claim for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is moot as a higher rating is in effect.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD). The Veteran's claim is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including intrusive thoughts, frequent nightmares, avoidance and estrangement from others, restricted affect, sleep difficulty, extreme irritability, angry outbursts often escalating to physical confrontations, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, depressed mood, extreme isolation, feelings of worthlessness with excessive guilt, concentration difficulties, and thoughts of suicide. The Veteran's condition is not productive of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since March 6, 2007. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 8, 1995 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was not considered until October 1998 when he submitted a statement seeking to reopen his previous claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD. The appeal will be returned to the RO/AMC for appropriate development.