PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in total occupational and social impairment from the date of his claim to April 18, 2005. From April 19, 2005, the Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD precludes him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, resulting in a TDIU being granted.

The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.,PTSD has been granted a 50 percent disability rating effective December 17, 2012. The Veteran previously had a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifest by total occupational and social impairment prior to February 5, 2009, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed in-service stressors. Additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors, will be necessary before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and his claims for service connection for PTSD, hip complaints/degenerative disc disease of the hips are addressed. The Board found that while medical evidence indicates some PTSD symptoms, the most persuasive opinion establishes that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment due to suicidal thoughts, violent ideation, difficulty maintaining personal hygiene, impaired judgment, and impaired impulse control. As a result, the Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD from January 31, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed stressors, including witnessing a soldier being attacked and mutilated, firing an artillery salvo into the DMZ, and seeing another soldier beaten to death, were not verified. As such, service connection for PTSD could not be established.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to March 2, 2005. From March 2, 2005 to October 21, 2009, the impairment was more severe, warranting a higher rating of 70 percent. Since then, the impairment has not met the criteria for an even higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, and dysthymic disorder). The appeals were not successful as new and material evidence was not provided to reopen these claims.

The Board found no credible evidence of a head injury sustained during active service and denied the Veteran's claim for residuals of a head injury. The issue of PTSD was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's claim is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, thus the cases are dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to April 10, 2009. The Board has found that a higher rating is warranted for the period from August 28, 2007, to April 10, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 9, 2008. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not result in more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The cause of death was unrelated to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lower back condition, bilateral knee condition, and PTSD. The claim for PTSD is granted as there is credible supporting evidence of an in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and issuing a statement of the case regarding the effective date of his PTSD service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.