PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for dysfunctional uterine bleeding and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The VA examiners are asked to provide a rationale for their opinions regarding the onset of the Veteran's conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The Veteran has variously diagnosed psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD, the symptoms of which are related to his active service, but already considered part of his service-connected PTSD and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling effective March 18, 2011. The rating reflects the severity of his condition as per the General Rating Formula for evaluating psychiatric disabilities other than eating disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination. The case will also be adjudicated again to determine the appropriate rating for PTSD and whether TDIU should be granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms were adequately described by the established schedular criteria and did not meet the criteria for an extraschedular rating. However, it was determined that the Veteran would retire early from his employment due to PTSD, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and COPD contributed substantially or materially to his death, granting service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD alone, without consideration of the adverse effects from his non-service connected poly-substance abuse, did not result in more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The criteria for a higher rating were not met prior to February 24, 2003.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a diagnosis of a psychosis during service or continuity of symptoms post-service.

The Board denied a rating higher than 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder before January 26, 2009, finding that the Veteran's disability picture equated to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to July 27, 2009 and increased to 70 percent from July 27, 2009 to December 27, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain complete articles and another VA opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the claim for an increased evaluation has been denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are denied as there is no competent evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not warrant a 100 percent rating prior to September 17, 2008. Therefore, the effective date for the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD is set at March 2, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD was primarily manifested by symptoms such as nightmares, sleep difficulty, intrusive thoughts, irritability, social isolation, flashbacks, exaggerated startle response, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores of 51 and 55. These symptoms demonstrated no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depression, general anxiety disorder, and depression NOS, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that there is no right ear hearing loss disability present during the pendency of this claim. The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.