PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 6, 2011. The evidence shows moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD does not present an exceptional disability picture that the schedular rating criteria are shown to be inadequate for compensating his social and occupational impairment due to service-connected PTSD, and the schedular rating criteria reasonably describe his disability level and symptomatology.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to PTSD, which is considered a direct service-connected condition. The evidence shows that PTSD contributed substantially and materially to the fatal cardiopulmonary disease resulting in his death.

The Board determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, dysthymia, generalized anxiety disorder, and primary insomnia due to lack of in-service diagnosis or credible evidence supporting a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent initial rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, but denied service connection for PTSD and depression due to lack of a confirmed in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete records, including Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no credible evidence supporting the claimed stressors and the preponderance of the competent medical evidence does not support a finding that he has any other psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no pending or unadjudicated claim prior to August 22, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and he is now service-connected for anxiety disorder. The effective date of this decision is April 25, 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has been able to secure and maintain employment in various roles over the past year.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent evaluation from January 10, 2006 to January 5, 2010. From January 6, 2010 to October 6, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD was found not productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and a mental hospitalization report. The Veteran's appeal will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD or depressive disorder, and concluded that the Veteran's current mental health issues are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the effective date of service connection. The Board granted entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, with an effective date of February 20, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as his July 2005 Board decision is final and he cannot obtain an effective date earlier than the reopened claim's application date.

The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain an in-service personal assault, and thus her claims for PTSD and an eating disorder are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated based on the criteria for mental disorders, with a current rating of 70 percent from August 27, 2009. The appeal is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with no greater than an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, although generally functioning satisfactorily.