PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of moderate to severe impairment, warranting a 70% disability rating from December 30, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal was denied in part, including his request to reopen a claim for service connection for traumatic cataract of the right eye. The remaining issues were also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since March 26, 2008. The appeal for a higher rating or total unemployability due to service-connected disability was granted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD in December 2005. The Veteran's spouse filed a request to reopen the claim on September 11, 2007, and VA granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of September 11, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA PTSD examination and reconsideration of the TDIU claim. The PTSD rating issue will be addressed first, followed by the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from the Memphis Vet Center.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, finding that no communication prior to January 26, 2010 indicated a desire to reopen the claim. The Veteran's request was construed as an informal claim filed on January 29, 2010, and he was granted service connection with an effective date of January 26, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that it would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that his claimed personal assault in service has not been independently corroborated and that witnessing casualties during deployment does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies, including the need to consider a newly assigned 70 percent rating for PTSD and an examination of his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a higher initial rating for Pyloric Ulcer Disease. The Veteran was not diagnosed with PTSD during active military service, and there is no evidence of record supporting his claim for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and concluded that the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 60 percent, including a 50 percent rating for PTSD and 10 percent ratings for tinnitus, vertigo, and traumatic brain injury. The Veteran has post-service occupational experience as an electronics/fire alarm technician, driver, tour guide, and unpaid volunteer positions. His service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's statements were deemed unreliable and not credible.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, from February 15, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for his service-connected PTSD was denied by the RO. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination and updated VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's PTSD with associated claustrophobia and major depressive disorder have been established, as well as service connection for recurrent right nasal pterygium. Service connection for onychomycosis has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a more contemporaneous VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD, and for obtaining all outstanding medical records from the Cleveland VAMC.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling from December 6, 2010, to the present.