PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus and any acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, are found to be related to service. The Board has granted the claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, had its onset during his period of service and is related to his military experience. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to include obtaining updated VA treatment records, corroborative evidence of alleged stressor events in service, and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional treatment records, as well as consideration of whether he is unemployable due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested primarily by depression, sleep impairments, nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and memory loss. The disability results in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks but satisfactory general functioning at all points pertinent to this appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 29, 2007, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including securing VA psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unverified stressors and need for further medical examination. The claims will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as there is credible evidence supporting his claimed in-service stressors and a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of the appellant's PTSD. The issues on appeal are an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and major depression is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and associated conditions was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or entitlement to benefits before March 14, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS, has been characterized by occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas consistent with the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating. The appeal is granted as the Veteran is entitled to an initial 50 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound, finding that he did not meet the criteria for either benefit due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's exposure to combat stressors during his service in Vietnam, combined with credible supporting evidence of such stressors and a link between current symptomatology and these events, establishes service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses, including PTSD, major depression, schizotypal personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, polysubstance abuse, bipolar disorder, impulse control disorder, and pedophilia, were not caused by or aggravated by his service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD prior to June 1, 2006, effective from March 27, 1998.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches before a decision was made.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by moderate social impairment resulting from social isolation and anger/rage reactions, and severe vocational impairment productive of an unstable work history without total isolation or incapacitating symptoms causing repudiation of reality with disturbed thought processes, confusion, panic, or explosions of anger in a profound retreat from mature behavior. The Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD for the period from July 8, 1986 through April 30, 1992 and from July 1, 1992 to May 10, 1994.