PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there were no confirmed in-service stressors and the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of corroborated in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 50 percent, as his condition does not cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's asthma has not required frequent medical visits or the use of systemic corticosteroids, thus preventing a higher rating.,PTSD is not related to any in-service stressors and no current diagnosis was found.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for manic depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder were denied, as was his request for increased ratings for residuals of fracture and lacerations to the left hand and a left clavicle fracture. The AOJ found no new and material evidence presented to reopen the claim for manic depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to issues related to line of duty determinations and other potential evidence that needs to be considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing with one of the Board's Veterans Law Judges.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for this diagnosis. The claim of service connection for malaria is reopened due to new evidence provided by Dr. J.A.M.

The Board has determined that the appellant withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found that the appellant's PTSD warrants an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent, based on symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, hypervigilance, sleep difficulties, feelings of being unsafe, irritability, social withdrawal, difficulty trusting people, anger, avoidance behavior, and exaggerated startle response.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional information and verification of stressors, as well as obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding service treatment records and further examination is needed for PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and congestive heart failure. The Veteran's claims of service connection are not decided at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and diabetes mellitus, type II, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as sleep impairment, intrusive thoughts, irritability, anger, and mild memory loss. The VA rating committee has determined that the Veteran's condition warrants a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 11, 2004 and increased to 100 percent effective April 15, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of the benefits sought, and thus does not preponderate against the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied the moving party's motion for an earlier effective date of September 21, 1999 for service connection for PTSD. The decision found no clear and unmistakable error in the original denial.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100 percent effective from September 2, 1999, to February 1, 2000. For the periods before and after this date, a higher evaluation is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and defective vision, exotropia, and amblyopia exanopsia (claimed as a right eye condition). The decision is based on the lack of new and material evidence to reopen the claim for defective vision, exotropia, and amblyopia exanopsia. Service connection for anxiety disorder was not granted due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the effective date of his claim, and there is no evidence that warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability evaluation, as it does not cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The scar is currently rated at its maximum allowable under current regulations.