PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent evaluation for the period March 18, 2005 to February 14, 2007. Beginning on February 15, 2007, the VA has granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for PTSD as secondary to service-connected Crohn's disease is denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine if he requires aid and attendance or is housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bilateral tinnitus.

The Board found no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated as 100 percent disabling in combination, including post-traumatic stress disorder, low back disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's impairment from diabetic neuropathy effectively renders him without the use of his lower extremities, necessitating the use of a wheelchair for locomotion.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his active duty and thus, his claimed stressors are not credible. The current diagnoses of PTSD, alcohol abuse, alcohol-induced mood disorder, polysubstance abuse, and mixed personality disorder were deemed to be unrelated to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a compensable evaluation for the shell fragment wound scar of the occipital scalp. The claim for residuals of a left knee injury including arthritis and tendinitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The veteran's PTSD has caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The current rating is 30 percent, which reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The veteran's PTSD with depression has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since September 27, 2001. The symptoms include flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired short-term and long-term memory, impaired judgment, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for PTSD, left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (claimed originally as a blood disorder), and an initial compensable evaluation for hepatitis C. The Board found that there was no credible supporting evidence to substantiate the claimed stressor events for PTSD and that the diagnoses of left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism were not shown to be related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and he has been granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to his PTSD. He was also granted a permanent and total disability rating for non-service-connected pension.

The veteran's claim for a total rating for compensation on the basis of individual unemployability was granted with an effective date of June 29, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of claimed stressors and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was incurred in active service due to verified stressors during his time in Vietnam.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating, as his symptoms were controlled with medication and he was generally functioning satisfactorily.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an affective disorder related to military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed in-service stressors have not been corroborated, and thus denied service connection for PTSD. The low back disability issue is being remanded.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus prior to a decision being made by the Board. The appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD remains pending.