PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right eye disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of irritability, hypervigilance and depression. However, he does not have difficulty with memory or complex commands, nor does he have impaired judgment or difficulty with abstract thinking.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and back muscle strain do not warrant a higher rating, with both issues being denied.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD and dismissed the TDIU claim as moot due to the resolution of the other issues.

The VA determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's PTSD to her service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is associated with his experiences in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and social worker survey.

The Veteran is granted a fee basis medical identification card for treatment of his service-connected PTSD. The claim for reimbursement of unauthorized private medical services related to PTSD is also granted, as VA facilities are geographically accessible and the issue of whether VA can provide necessary care or services remains in equipoise.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a finding of in-service stressors, leading to a determination that service connection is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disability had its onset in service or is related to an in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 2, 2007. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to withdrawal by the appellant. The Veteran's PTSD is evaluated at a 30 percent rating, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 30 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's symptoms, including suicidal and homicidal ideation, impaired impulse control, and difficulty establishing effective relationships, warrant a 70 percent rating for PTSD. However, the evidence does not support a higher 100 percent rating due to lack of gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence prior to May 3, 2004 did not show gross impairment in thought processes and communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, danger of hurting self or others, inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation, or memory loss. Therefore, an earlier effective date for the 100 percent disability evaluation for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and to determine the nature and etiology of his PTSD and left leg disability. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by hypervigilance, irritability, anger control problems, suicidal ideation, and inappropriate threatening behavior, which is consistent with occupational and social impairment in most areas; his PTSD does not produce total social or occupational inadaptability. The criteria for a 70 percent initial rating have been met.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD and has determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for PTSD.