PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms such as depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, flattened affect, disturbances of mood and motivation, episodic irritability and anger, difficulty maintaining relationships, and one instance of suicidal ideation. The Board found that the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent have not been met or approximated at any time during the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that was caused by his service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective August 12, 2009. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show entitlement to higher ratings within a year of the date of claim.,An effective date earlier than June 15, 2007 was denied for the 20 percent rating for residuals of a fracture of the left tibia due to lack of medical records in the year prior to the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 30 percent disability rating, which is the highest schedular rating available for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms of depression, chronic sleep impairment and nightmares, anger outbursts, thoughts of suicide, suspiciousness (hypervigilance), social isolation, fear of intimacy, and trouble being in crowds are consistent with a 30 percent disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the elbows, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right knee condition, and left knee disorder. The decision found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions that was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms including nervousness, anxiousness, anger, alcohol consumption, impaired short- and long-term memory, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances in mood and motivation, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, irritability, social isolation, sleep impairment, nightmares, hypervigilence, panic attacks occurring more than once a week, avoidance of activities and interactions that trigger recollection of war experiences, restricted range of affect, and suicidal ideation. For the entire rating period from December 29, 2009, the Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The initial evaluation for PTSD is granted at 30 percent prior to June 7, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an updated opinion regarding the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition in accordance with VA regulations, and the Board finds that his current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 30, 2008. The Board found that the symptoms do not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss originated in service due to acoustic trauma, and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a staged rating of 30 percent prior to January 28, 2010; 50 percent from that date to July 19, 2013; and 70 percent from July 19, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent prior to December 29, 2013 and at 70 percent beginning on that date.,PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of November 9, 2005 for the grant of a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of November 9, 2005 for the assignment of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 29, 1998, for a TDIU based on service-connected PTSD is denied as the criteria for a TDIU were met on that same day.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is instead related to chronic alcohol and polysubstance abuse.