PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Video Conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder, and for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral foot disorder have been denied. The evidence received since the final decisions is not new and material to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since January 1996, reflecting the severity of his symptoms and impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus, the relaxed evidentiary standards of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b) do not apply. The Veteran's statements regarding his in-service stressors were insufficient to verify the occurrence of the events he claimed, as there was no independent evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD has been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to a temporary total evaluation from May 30, 2005 to July 1, 2005 due to hospitalization for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression with chronic adjustment disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a more detailed VA opinion regarding whether any psychiatric disorder present is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on credible supporting evidence of a verified stressor event. The Veteran's prostatitis claim remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent from May 1, 2006 onward and a compensable rating for chronic tension headaches has been granted. The Veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in service, and therefore grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of POW status and a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records. The case will be reviewed again after these records are obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; a cardiovascular disorder, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; and a respiratory disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of service incurrence or aggravation of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent from May 13, 2003. The Board has restored the original rating of 70 percent effective May 13, 2003.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to her military service. The claim is granted.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's accounts of his PTSD symptoms and stressors were not credible, leading to a denial of service connection for PTSD. The claim for an increased rating for right leg disability is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim of residuals of head injury remains denied.