PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, onychomycosis of the feet and toes, a fungus infection of the first finger, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's annual income was found to be excessive for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation or own name. The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms no worse than depression, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, hypervigilance, restrictive affect, intrusive thoughts, irritability, suicidal ideation, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of mood and motivation, and persistent hallucinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of whether the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and an adjustment disorder, to include depression, which may be aggravated by either or both PTSD and an adjustment disorders, will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest possible level of disability (100%), and his claim for SMC is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or service connection.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities, including depression and adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The Veteran's reported stressors do not meet criteria for PTSD as defined by DSM-IV.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as there is at least as likely as not that he engaged in combat and his symptoms are consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with schizophrenia has resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100 percent schedular rating effective from January 20, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a psychiatric examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders were incurred during or aggravated by his active duty service. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether PTSD is at least as likely as not related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to January 9, 2010. Since then, the rating has been increased to 70 percent. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and he is assigned a 20% rating for his cervical spine disability effective November 29, 2004. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for the cervical spine disorder from June 20, 2007 to present is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no competent and credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from August 31, 2005 through April 5, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of attempts to obtain records from Dr. John P. McClain and Dr. Blinder.