PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 100 percent evaluation effective April 3, 2007. The appeal for TDIU is moot due to the assignment of a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran does not have a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, or panic disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's PTSD and its effects on his memory problems, as well as differentiate between the effects of service-connected PTSD and nonservice-connected TBI residuals. The case will be remanded for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was not diagnosed in accordance with DSM-IV criteria, and the Board finds that he does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.,His acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and an adjustment disorder with anxiety, including depression, is not related to service. The psychosis did not manifest itself within one year of service.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder pain is caused by a strain and his arthritis in either shoulder did not manifest itself within one year of service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, has been granted due to credible supporting evidence of an in-service assault.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disability, tinnitus, and tingling and numbness of upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a new VA examination for his PTSD and sleep apnea claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but not reduced reliability and productivity. The disability picture caused by the appellant's PTSD is not so unusual as to render the application of the regular schedular rating provisions impractical.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board previously denied this claim in November 2008, and it is final.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertensive heart disease and hypertension, as well as his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, are found to be the result of an in-service stressor. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Forsyth Memorial Hospital on February 2 and 3, 2006 due to a lack of prior authorization from VA. The treatment was deemed unauthorized as it did not follow up with previously authorized care.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a nervous disorder, and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder NOS, was incurred in service and is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service nor may service connection be presumed for psychosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete development of records. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being addressed, as well as his increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of anxiety, intrusive thoughts, anger, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, auditory and visual hallucinations, social isolation, panic attacks, and passive suicidal ideation, resulting in occupational and social impairment in most areas. The criteria for a disability rating of 70 percent have been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the effective date set at September 30, 2002. The Veteran was awarded a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability as of October 31, 2006. He also received TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and any diagnosed conditions.