PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to a service-connected disability, and the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's residuals of a right wrist fracture with osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 5214. The Veteran does not have ankylosis.,For PTSD from August 5, 2008 to December 18, 2011, the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation of 70 percent as he demonstrated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but without evidence of flattened affect or panic attacks more than once a week. Since December 19, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, drug dependency, gastrointestinal disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disability (excluding PTSD) have been denied. The Veteran's drug dependency is not service-connected as it was the result of willful misconduct.

The Board found that the Veteran was not rated 100% disabled for a period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death, and thus denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling an examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, conducting a VA examination, and considering the evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his combat experience in Vietnam and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to her reported sexual assaults during service, and the Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's PTSD is related to her active duty service. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 10, 2009. Bilateral tinnitus was found to have its onset in service and is considered service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining clarification or a new examination regarding service connection claims for low back injury, PTSD, and loss of peripheral vision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, effective from October 17, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 30 percent from June 18, 2003 to March 3, 2008.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with features of PTSD and depressive features is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 30, 2008. The Board found that the disability results in reduced reliability and productivity but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has effectively rendered him unable to work since he filed his current claim for VA benefits, resulting in total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors are credible and have established a link to her current symptoms. The claim for hypertension remains denied as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Board requested additional development including obtaining medical records prior to 2004 and requesting an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, as well as sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Board found that none of his claimed conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's initial PTSD rating was granted at 30 percent, effective January 2008. As of September 29, 2011, the disability increased in severity and warrants a higher evaluation.