PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective August 15, 2003. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling since November 14, 2002. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as for partial-complex seizure disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service stressors or a link between current symptoms and any claimed events.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of the revised 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f) revisions and potential applicability to the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 27, 2006. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not been found to warrant a rating in excess of the current 50 percent assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen her previously denied claims of hearing loss and tinnitus. The right wrist ganglion cyst was not rated compensable, and no other conditions met the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the examination report and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and development of his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board will seek a definitive opinion on the relationship between any diagnosed psychiatric condition and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling, precludes him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experiences.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alopecia and urticaria, as well as his increased disability ratings for PTSD, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae were all granted. The initial disability rating for urticaria was set at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is not related to service due to lack of credible supporting evidence for an in-service stressor and his history of drug abuse.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by symptoms such as anxiety, flashbacks, intrusive memories, depressed mood, impaired sleep, irritability, hypervigilance, anger, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores ranging from 50 to 68. These symptoms demonstrated occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal includes a request for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD and the propriety of reducing his rating from 100% to 30%. Additionally, he is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Further development is needed, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for PTSD with an initial rating of 50 percent from March 2008 is granted. The issue of a higher initial rating for PTSD is withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and an anxiety disorder, needs additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination. The issue will be remanded for further action.