PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran's pre-existing hypertension was aggravated by his third period of active duty. The claim for higher evaluations for PTSD is remanded to obtain VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent or 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, a right shoulder disability, residuals of hernia, bilateral eye disability (myopia or loss of vision), arthritis of the hands, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence submitted was found to be duplicative or cumulative.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since March 26, 2008, and he is granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with related conditions such as polysubstance abuse and inhalant dependence, has resulted in total social and occupational impairment. The Board granted a 100% disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease (CAD), S/P CABG, and S/P MI, are shown as of the date of his claim to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment. Therefore, TDIU was granted from December 30, 2004 until July 7, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was not shown in service or until several years after service and has not been shown to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA records and adjudicate the issues of increased PTSD rating and total disability based on individual unemployability prior to June 14, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from May 21, 2007 to March 30, 2009. From March 31, 2009, the impairment was total.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between service and the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder was caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporary VA psychiatric examination and for obtaining all pertinent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a temporary 100% rating effective July 26, 2007 due to hospitalization over 21 days and assigned a 50% rating as of July 1, 2007.

The Board found no evidence of a personal assault in service and concluded that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since September 8, 2006. The current evaluation reflects symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity due to chronic sleep impairment; nightmares; anger and irritability; panic attacks more than once a week; depression; mild memory and concentration loss; emotional avoidance and numbing; suspiciousness; hyperarousal; exaggerated startle response; infrequent flashbacks; and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and an appropriate VA examination to determine if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities. The claims will be reviewed again after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected due to his reported experiences in Vietnam and fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's PTSD with cognitive disruption and sleep disturbance is currently rated at 50 percent, effective October 24, 2011. The claim for a higher rating has been withdrawn.