PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of malaria or any residuals thereof, and there is no evidence linking his claimed psychiatric disorder to service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right thigh scar from a gunshot wound, collectively meet the schedular requirements for consideration of a TDIU. With full consideration of his educational background and occupational experience, and resolving doubt in his favor, the Veteran is precluded from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

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

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial decision, and now the Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating prior to November 25, 2007 or from February 1, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to March 29, 2011 and 50 percent since then. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 26, 2005, reflecting severe symptoms that have caused significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for a face-to-face psychological evaluation with appropriate psychological testing to determine the correct diagnoses of any current neuropsychiatric and/or personality disorder(s) and whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active military service and whether he has an anxiety disorder that is attributable to his service. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability other than PTSD (major depressive disorder) is found to be related to his service, including his military service in Vietnam. The sinus allergies are not considered to be related to his service or any exposure therein.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's statements regarding these conditions were deemed not competent evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is not shown to be due to service. The Veteran's claimed stressor could not be verified and there is no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his experiences during active service.

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of symptoms of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to various symptoms, but without impairment in most areas or complete occupational and social impairment.,An initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD from February 27, 2008, to December 4, 2008 was granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder. The Veteran's current treatment records support his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for tinnitus was not addressed as it is already at the maximum schedular rating. The PTSD claim resulted in a higher initial rating, but the issues of reopening left knee and right knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, cardiac disorder, breathing problem, and chronic fatigue with joint conditions remain unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records, as well as readjudication of his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks from October 6, 2006, to March 29, 2007. From March 30, 2007, to April 29, 2008, the Veteran's PTSD caused more severe impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.