PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and coronary artery disease have been denied. The VA has assigned a 20% rating for diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD claim requires further development due to the need to verify the stressor event and obtain a VA psychiatric examination. The low back disability rating issue remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully evaluate the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating for a service-connected right inguinal hernia, service connection for a knee disability, and service connection for PTSD. The claim for service connection of a right ingrown toenail was not addressed as it may have been related to his service-connected right inguinal hernia.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at the highest possible schedular rating of 100 percent.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration, including scheduling a hearing, providing proper VCAA notice, obtaining additional records, and readjudicating all issues on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether service connection for PTSD should be granted, due to a lack of proper VCAA notice.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, concluding that there was no evidence of a verified stressor from active service and no diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, residuals of a fractured left great toe with DJD, and GERD with hiatal hernia. The veteran's service-connected conditions were found to be productive of no more than moderate impairment in the case of the left great toe and primarily manifested by pyrosis and regurgitation in the case of GERD.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms more closely approximate those which result in total occupational and social impairment, effective from February 16, 2005. A 100 percent evaluation for PTSD is granted as of that date.

The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is found to be secondary to her service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. The redundant colon issue was not granted, and the fibrocystic breast disease is rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's anxiety disorder, including PTSD, is currently rated at 50 percent disabling due to significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence, but finds that his claimed in-service stressors are not supported by credible supporting evidence. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service combat-related acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The hearing loss claim was not adjudicated as it requires additional development.

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, despite acknowledging the occurrence of stressful events in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with agoraphobia was denied by the RO. The issue is not currently before the Board as a substantive appeal has not been filed.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to new evidence provided by the veteran, which includes a diagnosis of PTSD and supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred. The claim will now be reviewed on its merits.