PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and service connection for chloracne, as there was no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions.

The veteran's PTSD does not manifest occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships or more severe symptomatology.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances; and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted based on credible evidence of an in-service stressor and a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as there was no credible supporting evidence that a claimed in-service stressor actually occurred and medical evidence did not establish a causal nexus between current PTSD symptomatology and the claimed in-service stressor.

The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was withdrawn. Service connection for hypertension, secondary to diabetes mellitus, was granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was denied because he has not received a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board remands the claim for further development, including verification of a reported in-service stressor and obtaining additional VA medical records.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for verification of the veteran's claimed stressors.

The veteran's claim for service connection and a total and permanent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder was granted an effective date of June 14, 2001, but not earlier.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was denied because there is no competent medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with DSM-IV.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the veteran for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current penile lesions and pruritis ani.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, but the veteran does not have PTSD related to a verified stressor. The veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to determine if the veteran sustained sexual assault trauma during service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 50 percent effective October 27, 2003, and at 70 percent effective December 15, 2007.

The veteran's PTSD does not result in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms that would warrant a higher evaluation than the currently assigned 50 percent.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure, skin rash, sleep disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the knees and ankles, and a bilateral hip disorder.

The veteran was granted an effective date of November 18, 2003, for the award of a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD.