PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of stressor verification and a need for a comprehensive psychiatric VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is remanded for further development including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to July 31, 2007 and 70 percent from that date. The Veteran contends his PTSD warrants higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his PTSD is being remanded due to the passage of time and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records. The issues of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for erectile dysfunction and an increased rating for PTSD are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disability, headache (migraine) or PTSD. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is characterized by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but generally functioning satisfactorily. The RO has remanded the issue of service connection for cervical disc degeneration, C5-7.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his in-service combat exposure, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The appeal is now pending with the RO.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of symptomatology that more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent initial disability rating for the entire period of appeal from October 15, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for multiple joint and muscle pain involving the neck, shoulders, and elbows as well as chest cavity pain, both claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in service, while his other claims were not supported by evidence.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD secondary to MST is denied as there is no verified in-service stressor.

The Board found that there was no verified stressor related to the Veteran's service, and thus denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for chronic PTSD and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression. The Veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence, but the conditions were not found to be incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and an anxiety disorder, finding no credible supporting evidence of inservice stressors.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, chronic back pain, and hypertension were denied. The claims for a left arm burn and right ankle sprain have been reopened.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for his service-connected sinusitis with allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at the 20 percent level prior to August 7, 2007, but any increase in severity after that date would require further evidence.

The Veteran's schizophrenia and PTSD have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain relevant records from SSA. The case will be remanded for further action.