PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD with anxiety disorder. The examiner must consider all theories of service connection, including secondary service connection due to his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is at least in equipoise that the current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his service, specifically his involvement in search and rescue operations after Hurricane Katrina.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD have been denied as there is no competent evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's unauthorized emergency transportation expenses incurred on September 28, 2011 for memory loss and severe headache were authorized due to the severity of his condition and the prudent layperson expectation that delay in seeking medical attention would have been hazardous.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, when considered with associated radiculopathy, warranted a separate rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have included nightmares, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, lack of concentration and focus, depressed mood, anxiety, and feelings of social isolation. These symptoms are indicative of no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The initial rating for PTSD is granted at 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was not service-connected before or during the hospitalization period, so a temporary total disability rating based on this condition is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating from June 8, 2010, to October 21, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with the terms of the Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), which includes obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and addressing whether April 30, 2009 is the appropriate effective date for the grant of an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, assigning a 30 percent disability rating effective July 12, 2004.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability was reopened and granted. The reduction in the disability rating for prostate cancer status post X-ray treatment with erectile dysfunction from 100% to 40% was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensably disabling (0 percent) under the provisions of Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since November 11, 2007, due to severe symptoms including suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, chronic sleep impairment, hallucinations, flashbacks, panic attacks, and an inability to establish effective relationships.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD was hospitalized for more than 21 days from April 8, 2009 to May 29, 2009. The VA awarded a temporary total rating of 100% based on this hospitalization period. However, the Board found that no extension of the temporary total rating is warranted beyond June 1, 2009 due to lack of evidence of continued need for convalescence or re-hospitalization.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been granted service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's PTSD disability rating was reduced from 70% to 30%, then increased back to 50% effective May 1, 2012. The reduction was upheld as the evidence did not show an actual improvement in his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus warrants a 20 percent evaluation, as he is not restricted in his activities due to this condition. Other claims for service connection and evaluations have been denied.