PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of symptoms resulting in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's psychological disabilities, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, have been characterized by significant occupational and social impairment warranting a higher initial rating of 70 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a rating of 30 percent for headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with his in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to October 31, 2007, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of no more than definite impairment in the ability to establish or maintain effective or wholesome relationships with people, and the psychoneurotic symptoms result in such reduction in initiative, flexibility, efficiency, and reliability levels as to produce considerable social impairment. The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's PTSD is productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, and recent events).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging a new VA psychiatric examination. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that his claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of service-connected hearing loss disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in March 2012. The issues of PTSD and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, major depression, anxiety, and schizoid personality is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the etiology of his current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD is remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD remains at 10 percent, with no change in his disability status.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of reduced reliability and productivity due to sleep disturbance, avoidance, feelings of detachment and estrangement, difficulty with relationships, increased arousal, irritability, depression, and passive suicidal and homicidal ideation. The Board has determined that the criteria for an initial evaluation of a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD and concluded that the Veteran's symptoms were related to his alcohol abuse and schizophrenia, not service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including clarifying which of the Veteran's disabilities are considered 'service connected' and determining whether his service-connected conditions alone render him housebound.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent effective June 27, 2013. The gunshot wound to the left thigh with retained fragment is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations and additional evidence collection. The RO will arrange for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations for his PTSD and shell fragment wound in the left bicep.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to personal assault is being remanded as additional evidence and a VA examination are needed.