PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is granted service connection. The appeal for alcohol and drug addiction was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing. Service connection for radiation exposure and prostate cancer are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 6, 2014. The Veteran withdrew his appeal and was satisfied with the current 50 percent rating assigned since May 6, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of May 31, 2007. The Board found that the Veteran fulfilled the criteria for service connection as of August 30, 2001.

The Veteran's right wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities are found to be related to service. Her acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD disability picture more closely approximates an occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood due to symptoms including severely impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, inability to establish effective relationships, nightmares, sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, and difficulty concentrating. Effective September 9, 2011, the Veteran's disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to pursue and maintain gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining Veteran's psychiatric treatment records from a Vet Center in Grand Junction, Colorado. The appeal will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The examiner will assess whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to military service or caused by his service-connected right foot disorder and/or malaria.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to August 16, 2004 and as 30 percent disabling from August 16, 2004 to July 21, 2010. The Board denied entitlement to higher evaluations for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and TDIU claims have been granted with effective dates of July 31, 2013. The earlier effective date for renal failure is being addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted with a rating of 30 percent, effective May 26, 2011. His bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence that it is related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder NOS, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and major depressive disorder. The effective date is not specified as the claim was reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for an automobile and/or specially adapted equipment due to lack of service-connected disabilities resulting in loss or permanent loss of use of an extremity, impairment of vision, or ankylosis of a knee or hip.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment, so his claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid disorder, asthma, eczema, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, and heart disease. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for keloids of the left ear and neck.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with depression prior to October 27, 2010 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are denied as the evidence does not show flexion limited to 15 degrees.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of her left knee instability is denied as the evidence does not show moderate or severe instability.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her right knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee instability are denied as the evidence does not show flexion limited to 15 degrees.,The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depression is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye optic neuropathy and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 8, 2010 is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 26, 2009. The VA examiner found the condition to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other mental health conditions, is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete verification of claimed stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing the Veteran with a VA Form 21-8940 and scheduling him for an appropriate VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant impairment, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Board also granted TDIU based on the severity of his PTSD.