PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's PTSD produces no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, sleep impairment, irritability, and mild social withdrawal.

The veteran was granted a separate compensable disability rating of 10 percent for chronic post-traumatic encephalopathy manifested by headaches, and the rating for PTSD was increased to 30 percent effective February 7, 2002.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms, including insomnia, nightmares, panic attacks, hypervigilance, and anxiety, do not warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for peroneal and tibial neuropathy of the right leg, as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board granted the veteran's petition to reopen a final disallowed claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder based on new and material evidence.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and a possible new examination.

The case is remanded for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical evidence to determine if there was a factually ascertainable increase in severity of his PTSD symptoms prior to December 22, 2003.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a back disability, PTSD, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and bilateral neuropathy of the upper extremities were denied as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected condition.

The appellant did not file a timely substantive appeal, and the Board lacks jurisdiction to consider the claims of entitlement to service connection for arthritis/joint pain, PTSD, avascular necrosis of the right hip, heart problems, right hand problems, and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a major depressive disorder as the most probative medical evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD, and there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is not shown to be more disabling than the currently assigned 30 percent rating.

The veteran's left hip arthralgia and right ankle disorder do not warrant increased ratings, and the effective date for the increase in the evaluation of the right ankle disorder is denied. The claims for service connection for PTSD, a right shoulder disorder, residuals of a right bicep tear, and a back disorder are also denied.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge via video conference at the veteran's local regional office.

The appeal is remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction for adjudication of a claim for service connection for drug dependence secondary to PTSD, and re-adjudication of the increased rating claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, a gastrointestinal disability, and a heart disability were denied as there was no competent evidence of current diagnoses or links to in-service events.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and shrapnel wounds of the back, hips and legs. However, it found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his claim for shrapnel wounds of the back, hips and legs but not for PTSD or Hepatitis C.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 2, 2002 for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.