PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and chronic right ear cholesteatoma were denied, as there was no verified in-service stressor for PTSD and the medical evidence did not support a diagnosis of cholesteatoma. The claim for increased ratings for perforation of the right ear drum and hearing loss in the right ear also failed to meet the criteria.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, but the Board finds that the earliest available effective date under the law has already been granted.

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

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and found that the veteran's Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease is related to his in-service stressors. The claim for secondary service connection for Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease due to PTSD remains pending.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV, and therefore denied service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to October 31, 2006 and at 70 percent from January 1, 2007. The appeal for a higher rating is granted.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his scar of the left foot, were denied increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not granted increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's scar of the left foot was not granted a compensable rating. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's headaches were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's bilateral pes planus was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's sleep disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's multiple joint pain was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's neurological disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chest pains were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's memory loss was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's dizziness was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have all been reopened but are still denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the resumption of payment of VA benefits at the full-dollar rate is denied as he did not meet the criteria for such resumption during the relevant period.

The veteran is seeking service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder. The RO has not attempted to verify the in-service stressors and further development is needed, including a VA examination if verified stressors are found.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of in-service stressors for PTSD. The veteran's claim will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his condition meets the criteria for such a rating based on chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of mood and motivation, impaired impulse control, and neglect of personal appearance and hygiene.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability, finding that PTSD alone did not preclude employment prior to April 1, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board at the local RO.

The veteran's appeal of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremity, as well as his claim for erectile dysfunction have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these issues due to withdrawal.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for verification of in-service stressors and additional development.

The Board has decided that additional development of evidence is required before resolving the issues on appeal, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records from specific facilities.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as depression, dysphoric mood, suicidal intent without plan, lack of concentration, minor psychomotor retardation, sleep impairment, nightmares, recurrent flashbacks of military events, impaired impulse control, irritability, hypervigilance, detachment from others, and moderate to severe social and occupational impairment. The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a disability rating of 30 percent.

The RO denied service connection for PTSD. The case is being remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD and concluded that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or related to service. The claim for PTSD was denied.