PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction as a result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his military service, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, anxiety, anger outbursts, irritability, depression, extreme sleeplessness, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores ranging from 35 to 55; it is not manifested by total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold percentage requirement for TDIU, but his PTSD and other conditions prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied. His bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spine disability claims were also denied, but his thoracolumbar spine disability claim resulted in a grant of an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not total occupational and social impairment. The initial schedular evaluation for PTSD is granted at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 23, 2004.,Since May 7, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, related to service. The Veteran's claims for low back and rough skin disorders were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the provision of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA psychiatric outpatient treatment reports and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher initial rating of his PTSD, and the claim has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen several of his claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his PTSD claim and service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the PTSD claim and there is no competent medical evidence linking any current psychiatric disability to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records and other relevant medical evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his military service. The claim for hypertension is also granted, but without a specific rating assigned as it remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of stressors and a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received since the last statement of the case, and because there are additional psychiatric diagnoses besides PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for PTSD and hand tremors, finding new and material evidence. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.