PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals due to his request. The issues include service connection, initial evaluations for PTSD and hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, and finds there is competent and credible evidence linking his current PTSD diagnosis to an in-service sexual assault. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood since November 17, 2009. The Veteran's symptoms include impaired sleep, nightmares and flashbacks several times a week, intrusive thoughts of Vietnam, anger, a dysphoric mood, poor concentration, panic attacks, social withdrawal, and intermittent suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression was granted. The issue of increased evaluation for his service-connected bronchial asthma remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a neck injury and the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD does not result in more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus the current 50 percent rating is maintained.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 21, 2010, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as his PTSD was etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating, and the Board finds that this evaluation adequately reflects his symptoms of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD. Additionally, a TDIU claim will be considered.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been so incurred.,There is no competent evidence relating any current psychiatric diagnosis to an incident of service or a service-connected disability. The Board concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examiner to provide an updated opinion. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's report of service with a classified mission in Korea can be corroborated and to make specific determinations regarding stressor existence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to determine the severity of his PTSD, as well as whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding his in-service stressors and to schedule a VA examination for psychiatric disability. The TDIU issue will be addressed after the service connection issue is resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by multiple inpatient admissions, ongoing suicidal ideation with plan, marked limitations in social and occupational functioning, and GAF scores ranging primarily from 35 to 45. The Board grants a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's skull fracture is rated at 30 percent, and his TBI-related psychiatric disability remains at 70 percent. A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for cognitive residuals of the TBI that are distinct from PTSD.