PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran seeks increased disability compensation for his service-connected PTSD and TDIU. The case is REMANDED to secure updated VA treatment records, arrange for a VA examination, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service stressors and that there is credible supporting evidence of these events.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet criteria for service connection for PTSD, and his claimed low back disorder is best characterized as primary insomnia. The Veteran's other claims of service connection were denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition within one year post-service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and he claims a higher rating. The Board has ordered additional examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all pending appeals. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the appeal and it is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety, were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected PTSD and for obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and TDIU is being remanded due to insufficient evidence, particularly regarding the onset of his psychiatric disorders during service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claim. The evidence did not support the claimed stressors, and the preponderance of the evidence indicated no current disability related to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, resulting in the dismissal of his claim for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD and remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating and TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since November 2, 2011. The Board has granted an increased rating to 70% for the period prior to November 2, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 50 percent and has now been increased to 70 percent effective August 17, 2012. The rating period prior to this date remains unchanged.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied as his statements linking it to a ship incident were contradicted by the ship's history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible evidence supporting his reported in-service stressor. The Veteran's other psychiatric disorders are also denied as they do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is not shown to have been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with PTSD was not productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas from July 28, 2008 to October 20, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations for his PTSD and back condition, as well as an opinion on the impact of these conditions on his employability. Additional treatment records are also needed.