PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with adjustment disorder and depression is rated at 70 percent from November 20, 2009 to June 3, 2011. The VA has granted service connection for PTSD based on new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD but denied service connection for bilateral forearm disability, including epicondylitis. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his military service, while the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for his forearm condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination and confusion over address changes. The appeal is now pending again.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol and substance abuse and substance-induced mood disorder has been rated at 70 percent since October 31, 2012. The Board found that the symptoms warrant this rating based on occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder was denied as there is no current medical diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria, and the evidence does not establish a link between his military service and any diagnosed psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of the occurrence of an in-service stressor event that resulted in PTSD.

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

The Board previously granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, but the Veteran appealed this decision to the Court. The Court remanded the case back to the Board for further development and consideration of new evidence. This includes obtaining additional private treatment records from Looking Glass Behavioral Health Associates.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a total disability rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood; but not total occupational and social impairment. The criteria for a 70 percent rating have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VCAA notice on the earlier effective date claim and a supplemental statement of the case (SOC) addressing his claims for service connection and competency. The Veteran must also perfect an appeal of his claims by filing a substantive appeal after issuance of the SOC.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, including major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder, was found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating prior to August 23, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of his osteoarthritis of the left foot and psychiatric disorders, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 2009, and the Board finds that he is entitled to this rating based on his symptoms of occupational and social impairment. However, there is no evidence showing total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran provided details of in-service stressors and current symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychotic disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain missing mental health treatment records from the Shreveport VA Medical Center.