PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment since January 6, 2010.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is service connected as it pre-existed service and was likely aggravated by military service.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran was also denied a higher evaluation for his irritable colon syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in his need for regular aid and attendance, including the inability to dress or undress himself, the inability to attend to his hygiene, the need to frequently adjust any special prosthetic or orthopedic appliance, the inability to feed himself or attend to the wants of nature, the incapacity to protect himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment; and the Veteran is not bedridden.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are consistent with his military service and have been verified by a VA psychiatrist. Therefore, the claim for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities, and tinnitus, resulting in a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent disability rating for PTSD has been maintained, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 50 percent is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for her service-connected migraine and tension headaches was denied as the evidence did not show that her condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his verified in-service stressor, and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of sense of smell and an increased rating for PTSD since February 11, 2009 due to his failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in the severity of PTSD during the one-year period before the filing of his March 15, 2007, increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the psychiatric disability resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency but not reduced reliability and productivity, while the hearing loss did not onset during service or have a causal relationship with service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his credible account of fear of attack while working in an ammunition dump during his time in Vietnam is sufficient to establish the occurrence of the claimed stressor.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's psychiatric and neurological conditions, as well as determine if service connection should be granted for these conditions. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to consider her current psychiatric disabilities, including somatoform disorder, dysthymic disorder, depression, and bipolar disorder. The case will be re-adjudicated as a claim for any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no verified stressor to support these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment. His diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, with the need for oral hypoglycemic agents but no regulation of activities.