PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's mood and anxiety disorders are found to have first manifested during service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran did not cooperate with the procedures to complete the evaluation process and participate in an extended evaluation plan of services for vocational rehabilitation benefits, leading to the discontinuance of his benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of other diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private mental health treatment records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% before June 27, 2012. The initial ratings for Parkinson's disease in the upper and lower extremities and facial muscles were denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD with depression, was found to be incurred in service due to a stressful event involving military sexual trauma. The Board granted the claim of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder. The claim will be readjudicated after the additional development is completed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation from May 10, 2004 to July 4, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and TDIU was denied as his service-connected conditions do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found an effective date of November 2002 for service connection of PTSD, and the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of all available treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at June 12, 1985.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by intrusive thoughts, nightmares, insomnia, irritability, hypervigilance, avoidance behaviors, an exaggerated startle response, anger, anxiety, decreased motivation and loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, and panic attacks (particularly in crowds) with GAF Scores ranging from 48 to 50, indicative of serious occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and is granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial rating period, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating prior to September 5, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the appeal period began, reflecting mild symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, and occasional decrease in work efficiency.