PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since November 2, 2011. The Board has granted an increased rating to 70% for the period prior to November 2, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 50 percent and has now been increased to 70 percent effective August 17, 2012. The rating period prior to this date remains unchanged.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied as his statements linking it to a ship incident were contradicted by the ship's history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible evidence supporting his reported in-service stressor. The Veteran's other psychiatric disorders are also denied as they do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is not shown to have been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with PTSD was not productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas from July 28, 2008 to October 20, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations for his PTSD and back condition, as well as an opinion on the impact of these conditions on his employability. Additional treatment records are also needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, residuals of a head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims were not reopened or remanded further.

The Board has found that hypertension is secondary to a service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus and PTSD). The Veteran's PTSD is also considered in aggravating his existing heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, with at least part of his condition attributable to combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pulmonary edema, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and other disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 6, 2012. As of September 6, 2012, the symptoms were sufficient to warrant a 50 percent rating.

The Board found insufficient competent and probative evidence to establish a relationship between current psychiatric disorders and service or service-connected disability, resulting in the denial of the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 18, 1998 for the award of TDIU and found that DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are warranted due to the Veteran's unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 2, 2002. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor, but there is no credible supporting evidence of the alleged personal and emotional assault during boot camp. As such, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VCAA notice.