PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, or hypertension. The claims of service connection for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), neck condition, COPD, sinus and allergy problems, left knee condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, skin disorder, and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has found that this rating adequately reflects his disability picture.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bursitis of the left shoulder, cervical spine arthritis, tinnitus, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his service in Vietnam and finds that he is entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent schedular rating.

The case is being remanded to the RO due to incomplete medical records and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination and verification of an incident involving a missile on board the USS Coral Sea. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective February 20, 2003. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The VA examiner found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and noted that the Veteran's military occupational specialty did not involve combat exposure. The primary diagnosis was major depressive disorder.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to insufficient evidence of a diagnosed condition related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no credible evidence linking any diagnosed psychiatric disability to service.

The RO denied the Veteran's earlier effective date claim for PTSD, assigning January 17, 2006 as the appropriate effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking, or mood. However, he does not have total social and occupational impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 7, 2005 for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The issues of service connection for PTSD are also being addressed.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification of the relationship between the Veteran's in-service stressor and her current depressive disorder. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's account of in-service military sexual trauma is credible, and she is granted service connection for PTSD as a result.