PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of his claim. The evidence shows significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The veteran's PTSD with depression is manifested by subjective complaints including chronic sleep disturbance, depression, some suicidal thoughts, anxiety, irritability, and trouble establishing and maintaining relationships. The evidence does not support a higher disability rating as it does not meet the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation due to occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's application for RH insurance was submitted after the two-year period following his service-connected PTSD disability award, and thus he is not eligible for this benefit.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case (SOC) on his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeal regarding his claim for service connection for residuals of radiation therapy due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal.

The veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder with chronic paranoid schizophrenia are not service-connected, but the effective date for a total evaluation is set at June 4, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating, and therefore denies his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and notification, including providing corrective notice regarding increased ratings for PTSD and left knee disability as well as reopening a claim of service connection for chronic fatigue.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional service personnel records and for the veteran to undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine his current psychiatric diagnoses and whether they are related to his period of active service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, but finds that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The claims for major bipolar disorder, right knee strain, right ankle strain, left shoulder strain, arthritis of the cervical spine, and peripheral neuropathy are all denied as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's presence with his unit during a time when it was under enemy attack provides sufficient evidence to support the claim.

The veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder/PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling, has prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his psychiatric disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, a low back disability, and the residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left calf and ankle are being remanded due to insufficient notice provided by VA and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of verified in-service stressors. However, the veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred during active service.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than October 13, 1998 for a 100% rating for PTSD and denied entitlement to TDIU prior to October 13, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability and his increased rating claim for PTSD. The Board found that there is no objective evidence showing that the veteran currently has a chronic disability of the low back, and thus denied the claim. For PTSD, the Board determined that the current 30 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of the condition.

Between March 29, 2005 and May 13, 2007, the veteran's PTSD was characterized by depression, anxiety, mild forgetfulness and confusion, chronic sleep impairment with nightmares, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, hypervigilance, irritability, and estrangement from his family. However, symptoms such as flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation were not shown.,Since May 14, 2007, the veteran's PTSD has been characterized by chronic sleep disturbances with nightmares, occasional panic attacks with flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, a depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, and social isolation. However, symptoms such as 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; and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships were not shown.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service and denied his claim.