PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in deficiencies in most areas such as work or school.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 2, 2008, for the award of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to a need for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA PTSD examination to validate the Veteran's claimed stressor of in-service sexual assault and/or harassment. The examiner will determine if PTSD is diagnosed and related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a new VA psychiatric examination. The issues on appeal include service connection for a respiratory condition, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's claimed stressors are sufficient to have caused his psychiatric disability, specifically including PTSD, and whether there exists a nexus between the established stressors and his psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal to the RO for additional action, including obtaining morning reports from a specific Army unit and ensuring that all development is completed in accordance with the remand instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's insomnia is less likely caused by or a result of non-psychiatric sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. The examiner opined that it was more likely as not due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted, with a 30 percent disability rating effective August 21, 2009. The issue of earlier effective date for service connection and the grant of a 30 percent rating is also addressed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and schizophrenia. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, claimed as PTSD, was granted an initial rating of 30 percent. Service connection for a left foot lipoma due to herbicide exposure was also granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The issue of service connection for allergic rhinitis is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, sexual disorder, and PTSD; and chronic sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service. The Veteran's claims for hemorrhoids, rash, stomach disability, and impotency are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, or for an initial compensable rating for left shoulder osteoarthritis. His hearing loss was not related to military noise exposure, but his tinnitus is etiologically related to service. PTSD and chronic depression were not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's polysubstance dependence disorder is service-connected as it was caused by self-medication for his PTSD. However, no separate acquired psychiatric disorder has been found to be related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's PTSD manifested by depression, irritability, sleeplessness, and some occupational and social impairment warranted a disability evaluation of 50 percent, but not total disability due to his service-connected disabilities.