PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

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

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, residuals of a head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims were not reopened or remanded further.

The Board has found that hypertension is secondary to a service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus and PTSD). The Veteran's PTSD is also considered in aggravating his existing heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, with at least part of his condition attributable to combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pulmonary edema, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and other disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 6, 2012. As of September 6, 2012, the symptoms were sufficient to warrant a 50 percent rating.

The Board found insufficient competent and probative evidence to establish a relationship between current psychiatric disorders and service or service-connected disability, resulting in the denial of the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 18, 1998 for the award of TDIU and found that DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are warranted due to the Veteran's unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 2, 2002. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor, but there is no credible supporting evidence of the alleged personal and emotional assault during boot camp. As such, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VCAA notice.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to September 10, 2010 included social isolation and occasional thoughts of suicide. The rating assigned was 50 percent.,From September 10, 2010 to July 8, 2013, the Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been productive of total occupational and social impairment, so the claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities including a respiratory disability, sinusitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, lumbar radiculopathy, postoperative residuals of a cervical spine injury, left arm and shoulder disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and bilateral pes planus. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for sinusitis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for lumbar radiculopathy on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for postoperative residuals of a cervical spine injury, status post fusion on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for left arm and shoulder disability on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD). The claims are being remanded to allow for further development of the claim, including consideration of PTSD under Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009).,The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral pes planus based on a presumption of soundness due to the absence of pes planus at entrance into service and exposure to asbestos and tear gas during service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and did not provide an in-service stressor. As such, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a left wrist disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions. The issues include seeking increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and PTSD, as well as determining whether he is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was denied as he did not provide any stressor information and there is no competent medical evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, has been characterized by symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, irritability, panic attacks once every two to three months, and mild memory loss of forgetting names. The Board finds that for the entire initial rating period, these symptoms result in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, which more nearly approximates the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 9413.