PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, but generally functioning satisfactorily.

The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernia, status post repair, was granted a noncompensable disability rating. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was also granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, hepatitis B, and color blindness. The case is REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records, authorize private medical records, schedule a VA examination, and determine if there are any new or material pieces of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a PTSD examination. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD involved no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD was denied. The RO granted a 30 percent initial evaluation, then revised it to 70 percent effective December 21, 2004, and further increased the rating to 70 percent effective September 1, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's permanent and total disability rating for PTSD was granted effective April 30, 2008. The appellant is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35 because he reached his 26th birthday before the effective date of the Veteran's eligibility.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, including considering the revised version of 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f) published July 13, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including diagnosed schizophrenia and alleged PTSD, did not meet the diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The condition was neither incurred in nor aggravated by active military service or the proximate result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, arranging a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has current psychiatric disability that began during service or is related to any incident of service, and providing VCAA notice.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be related to his active military service, while the claim for PTSD is denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted service connection. However, his hepatitis C claim remains incomplete as no opinion was provided regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to a military sexual trauma. However, his right lower extremity neurological disorder is not service-connected as it is related to diabetes rather than his service-connected ankle fracture.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD causes depression, irritability, anxiety, and impaired sleep but does not cause suicidal or homicidal ideation, obsessive rituals, impaired thought processes, delusions or hallucinations, disorientation, or neglect of personal appearance and hygiene. The VA has assigned a 70 percent disability evaluation for his PTSD.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 30 percent since January 24, 2004. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no credible evidence linking the claimed right shoulder scar or respiratory disorder to his military service.