PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service personnel records, as well as any details related to the veteran's claimed in-service stressors. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has found that his condition more nearly approximates a 70 percent rating based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence submitted since the July 1996 rating decision. However, it was determined that the veteran does not have PTSD related to her period of military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected recurrent subluxation and dislocation of the right shoulder is granted, with an assigned rating of 30 percent. The claims to reopen for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (secondary to the service-connected right knee disability) and PTSD are also granted.

The veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD was denied as there is no medical evidence to show a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The veteran does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for assistance in acquiring specially adaptive housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and did not engage in combat with the enemy, making it impossible to establish service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeal regarding the effective date of July 26, 1993 for his 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the June 1995 rating decision denying service connection for a back condition. As a result, the claim is granted, and the veteran's CUE claim renders moot the issue of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability. The Board also found that there is no PTSD or psychiatric disability other than PTSD secondary to service-connected disabilities of both knees. A 30 percent rating was assigned for chondromalacia with moderate laxity in the right knee, and a separate 10 percent rating was assigned for arthritis resulting in limited flexion of the right knee. Similar ratings were assigned for the left knee.

The Board finds that service connection for peripheral neuropathy is not warranted as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or association with Agent Orange exposure. Service connection for PTSD and hypertension secondary to PTSD are denied due to lack of competent medical evidence.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to his symptoms remaining within the range of reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence had been submitted to warrant the reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD, but further development is still required.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat while on active duty, and his reported stressors were not corroborated. As a result, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA mental health examination and asking the veteran to provide evidence of her academic achievements prior to military service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional information about the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and reviewing his personnel records. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis based on verified in-service stressors.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss and seminoma of the left testicle are service-connected. The anxiety disorder/PTSD claim is granted with a rating in excess of 30 percent, while the right ear hearing loss disability remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from August 18, 2005. The veteran's PTSD is characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as frequent panic attacks, impairment of memory, and disturbances of motivation of mood.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder has been productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas. A 70 percent rating for PTSD is warranted since October 7, 2003.