PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that it would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that his claimed personal assault in service has not been independently corroborated and that witnessing casualties during deployment does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies, including the need to consider a newly assigned 70 percent rating for PTSD and an examination of his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a higher initial rating for Pyloric Ulcer Disease. The Veteran was not diagnosed with PTSD during active military service, and there is no evidence of record supporting his claim for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and concluded that the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 60 percent, including a 50 percent rating for PTSD and 10 percent ratings for tinnitus, vertigo, and traumatic brain injury. The Veteran has post-service occupational experience as an electronics/fire alarm technician, driver, tour guide, and unpaid volunteer positions. His service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's statements were deemed unreliable and not credible.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, from February 15, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for his service-connected PTSD was denied by the RO. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination and updated VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's PTSD with associated claustrophobia and major depressive disorder have been established, as well as service connection for recurrent right nasal pterygium. Service connection for onychomycosis has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a more contemporaneous VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD, and for obtaining all outstanding medical records from the Cleveland VAMC.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling from December 6, 2010, to the present.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his employability considering all of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

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

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to April 7, 2009 and 50 percent from that date. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder due to a bar on VA benefits based on his discharge under conditions other than honorable from April 26, 1971 to October 18, 1972. The character of his service during this period was classified as 'under conditions other than honorable' by the Department of the Army.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. Specifically, a VA examination with a psychologist or psychiatrist is required to determine whether his claimed stressors are sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and an audiological examination is necessary to assess the nature and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and residual scar of shrapnel wound between the eyes was granted with effective dates of August 22, 2003. The Board found that the date entitlement arose is August 22, 2003, which is later than the original claim filing date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not manifested during his active military service, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, and is not shown to have manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year from the date of separation from the military. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is not established.