PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The immediate cause of death was aspiration pneumonia, which had an onset prior to death.

The Veteran's application for Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) was denied because he has multiple non-service-connected health conditions, including COPD and thyroid cancer, which prevent him from being considered 'in good health' as required by VA regulations.

The Veteran is entitled to the services outlined in his Individual Independent Living Plan (IILP) for the period from July 27, 2005 to August 1, 2006.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD disability warrants a rating of 50 percent, effective from October 21, 1997.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 30 percent from June 17, 2002 to April 3, 2005 and increased to 50 percent effective August 7, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence indicating diagnoses of acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be further developed to determine if there is sufficient information to verify any claimed stressor and whether a current diagnosis of PTSD is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as flattened affect, circumstantial or stereotyped speech, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impairment of short and long term memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, or difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute substantially to his death due to aspiration pneumonia, which was attributed to dementia. The Board concluded that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between PTSD and the development of Alzheimer's disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and medical opinion regarding his claimed stressors and their relation to his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to outstanding records of treatment and the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's diagnosis of PTSD is supported by VA examination, but there is no credible supporting evidence of a stressor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depression, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, left ankle and knee disorders, and residuals of a concussion, cervical spine injury, and back injury are not related to her military service.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board determined that the Veteran's PTSD did not warrant a disability rating in excess of 50 percent, as his symptoms were consistent with reduced reliability and productivity but did not meet the criteria for more severe ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 8, 2002. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, and near-continuous panic or depression affecting his ability to function independently.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD and a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder with scar and residual posttraumatic degenerative arthrosis was denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the shell fragment wound is upheld.