PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

Prior to October 6, 2008, the Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, daily panic attacks, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss.,From October 6, 2008, the Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks every few days, chronic sleep impairment, irritability, and isolation.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no medical basis to conclude that PTSD caused his death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been rated, but the appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has found that this level of disability warrants a higher evaluation to 70 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of sight in the right eye and PTSD, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 30 percent from August 13, 2004 to May 9, 2007 and elevated to 50 percent effective May 10, 2007. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent. The evidence shows that his symptoms are consistent with a 70 percent disability rating, but do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD was granted, and the effective date is set at June 4, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and personnel records, procuring post-service medical records, and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his active service.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records and the Veteran's complete personnel file are needed to properly adjudicate his service connection claims for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a cervical spine injury, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The appellant has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service-connected PTSD, which contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Veteran's death was caused by a service-connected disability (subdural hematoma), and the Board finds that his PTSD contributed to this cause of death. The appellant is therefore granted service connection for the cause of her husband's death.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is based on a claimed stressor involving witnessing the death of a soldier due to a hand grenade accident at Fort Lewis in September-November 1968. The VA has not been able to corroborate this stressor, and additional action is needed to determine if service connection for PTSD can be granted.

The Board has remanded the case to afford the Veteran a VA examination to determine if he currently suffers from an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as a result of any verified stressor(s), and whether his current conditions are related to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, hearing loss, and PTSD. The decision found no current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for a current examination and additional records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining an accurate record of his earnings since 1974. The issues on appeal include entitlement to a higher rating for anxiety neurosis and PTSD, as well as seeking an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent disability rating effective August 7, 2008.