PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional information about the Veteran's service in Vietnam and verifying his claimed stressors.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, and left leg arthritis. The claim for left leg arthritis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by difficulty relating to people, isolation from others, difficult family relations, hypervigilence, difficult employment relations, blunted affect, lack of grooming and hygiene, anxiety, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, poor concentration and memory, and flashbacks. The Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination. The Veteran failed to attend his scheduled examination due to hospitalization and the AMC/RO should arrange another one.

The Board granted increased ratings for PTSD and chondromalacia of the left knee, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a neurologic disorder and PTSD due to exposure to chemical and/or biological agents, as well as his claim for PTSD based on combat experience, were denied. The Board found no competent evidence supporting the claimed stressors or diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, gunshot wound residuals of the right leg, and shell fragment wound residuals of the right flank/abdomen. The Veteran's claims are supported by credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and physical injuries.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of a verified in-service stressor for PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after further development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 18, 2007, based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal and psychiatric disorders, as well as hypertension. The issues of PTSD have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of diabetes mellitus and PTSD, finding that no informal or formal claim was received prior to the specified dates.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative joint disease, finding no evidence of such condition during or within one year after service. Service connection for PTSD remains pending as the claim is still under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and issuing a Statement of the Case on the Agent Orange exposure claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with cannabis dependence in remission is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability picture.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed condition of PTSD that is related to service, and the Board finds no evidence supporting her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and dysthymic disorder, prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. Service connection for hemorrhoids, malignant melanoma, and chloracne was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are manifested by reduced reliability and productivity, anger with some homicidal ideation, depression with suicidal ideation, poor concentration, sleep impairment, anxiety, panic attacks on the job, decreased motivation, blunted affect at times. The RO granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD.