PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by sleep problems, nightmares, flashbacks, irritability, hypervigilance, and hyperstartle response, resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability but not deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and psychosis may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete opinions and need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent disabling from January 14, 2004 to July 6, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD causes occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a stressor related to his military service, and the Board found that he does not have PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the Veteran's personnel records and verifying his claimed stressors. The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30%, 50%, and now 70% since January 27, 2006. Effective October 19, 2012, he was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms including anxiety, depression, nightmares, suicidal ideation, and impairment of relationships with others. The Veteran was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected PTSD for the period prior to May 10, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to March 22, 2010. The appeal for increased ratings for other conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's dermatitis, PTSD, and acne were not granted service connection. The initial rating for PTSD was granted at 30%, but the ratings for tension headaches and acne remained at 0%. The Veteran did not have ongoing dermatitis after service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to include securing VA treatment records, obtaining a psychiatric examination, and considering all diagnosed psychiatric disabilities in the determination of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection as it is related to in-service sexual assault, and the Board found that the evidence supports this diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection and evaluations for various conditions, including tinnitus, diverticular disease, PTSD, COPD with sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD was denied. The initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD on or after July 20, 2011, is also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 30 percent disabling prior to October 30, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete documentation and an additional attempt to verify the Veteran's stressors at Fort Hood, Texas.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.