PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's depressive disorder NOS is determined to have its onset in service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection and a 50% rating effective November 6, 1998. The RO increased the rating to 70% in August 2005 for TDIU, both effective August 30, 2005. The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was granted on November 6, 1998.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including stressor verification and a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted, but the assigned rating of 30% is maintained as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, thinking, and mood; there was not total social and occupational impairment. The criteria for a 70 percent rating are met.

The Board found that the character of discharge from the Veteran's period of service is a bar to VA benefits and denied claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to report for VA examinations and unclear address. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after all necessary steps are taken.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from St. James Hospital in Louisiana related to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment since August 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and psychiatric disability including PTSD due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to December 1, 2010. From December 1, 2010 onwards, the Veteran is entitled to a rating of 70 percent for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency care received at Ocala Regional Medical Center and transportation from Marion County Fire Rescue on February 5, 2011 are granted as the treatment was for a medical emergency of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health. Additionally, VA facilities were not feasibly available at the time.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of increased rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have worsened since the last VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest possible level (100%) due to total occupational and social impairment caused by symptoms such as agitation reactions, short temper, sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, guarded and nervous behavior that is grossly inappropriate, severe isolation, poor behavioral controls, suspiciousness, and difficulty with memory and concentration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed TBI, cognitive disorder, including memory loss and attention deficit disorder, as well as an increased rating for PTSD with depression. The AOJ will consider all evidence since the December 2013 statement of the case during readjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the initial rating period, reflecting occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.