PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD and also denied his claim of entitlement to special monthly pension on the basis of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound.

PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate a 50 percent rating.,The service-connected status post residuals of right radical orchiectomy for seminoma with embryonal carcinoma of the right testicle and atrophy of the left testicle with hypogonadism do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,There is no evidence of a lung disorder (claimed as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis/pneumonitis, respiratory disorder, lung disorder, breathing problems, and lung cancer secondary to carcinoma of the right testicle) incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The claim may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service.,Chest pain is not a distinct disability for VA disability compensation purposes.,Peptic ulcer disease was not incurred in, or aggravated by, active military service. The claim may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service.,GERD was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The claim may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service.,Degenerative joint disease was not incurred in, or aggravated by, active military service. The claim may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service.,Low back pain is not a distinct disability for VA disability compensation purposes.,Claudication (also claimed as peripheral vascular disease) was not incurred in, or aggravated by, active military service. The claim may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service.,Obesity was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.,Dyslipidemia is not a disability for VA disability compensation purposes.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 50 percent for PTSD, meeting the criteria for reduced reliability and productivity. The muscle disability to the right leg is rated at 20 percent, which meets the current criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and tinnitus, as well as his request to restore a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal was not about service connection.

The veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is remanded. The claims of increased ratings for peripheral vascular insufficiency in both legs are granted with a rating of 30 percent each, effective December 10, 2002.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss, PTSD, and infectious hepatitis were denied. The RO will need to obtain the full report of the July 2004 VA liver, gall bladder, and pancreas examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a claimed in-service stressor for PTSD. The veteran's claim will be reviewed again after additional development, including verification of the alleged event and scheduling of a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, panic disorder in remission and PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent. The symptoms are productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The veteran withdrew his appeal seeking to establish there was Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) in a May 1986 rating decision that denied service connection for PTSD. As a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, specifically addressing whether an informal claim for TDIU arose when appellant filed a claim for an increased rating for PTSD in October 1996 and considering if his employment was marginal as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD, but denied it on the merits. The claim for service connection for an eye disorder was previously denied and remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to reopening a claim for PTSD and determining if the veteran timely filed an appeal for his right knee injury.

The Board denied the claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disorder. The claim for PTSD was reopened but ultimately denied on the merits due to lack of a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision is denied.

The VA assigned a 100 percent schedular evaluation for PTSD effective from April 12, 2001. The veteran's claim was received on that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of a diagnosed PTSD and an inability to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressor. The veteran needs further examination and review of his claims file, including verification of stressors and possible PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a disability evaluation of 50 percent, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.