PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and limitation of extension of the right elbow, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for the right elbow condition and that there was no credible medical evidence linking either condition to his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD results in severe impairment in his social and occupational functioning due to such symptoms as impaired impulse control and unprovoked irritability, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances (including in a work setting) and inability to establishing and maintaining effective social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to warrant a 70 percent evaluation prior to July 1, 2006, but not in excess of 70 percent since that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, as there was no credible evidence to corroborate the occurrence of his claimed in-service trauma or sexual assault and he does not have PTSD as a result of his active service.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability and PTSD based on personal assault due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressor and no medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board grants service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The claim for service connection for a stomach disorder was denied as new and material evidence has not been presented.,The application to reopen the claim of service connection for a stomach disorder is denied.,PTSD was granted based on a diagnosis related to an in-service assault, which meets the criteria for service connection.,The application to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder is granted; however, the claim for service connection for a back disorder is not met.,Service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence that it is related to service or any incident therein.,The application to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran is shown to have a diagnosis of PTSD due to stressors or stressful events that he as likely as not experienced in his service in the Republic of Vietnam, including incidents that occurred during combat with the enemy.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence to address the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors and a diagnosis linked to those events. The claim was not about service connection for diabetes mellitus with cerebrovascular occlusive disease, ischemic seizure activity and hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms including flat affect, audio and visual hallucinations, memory loss, impaired judgment and insight control, productive of total occupational and social impairment from March 1, 2003.

The Veteran's right foot disorder was not related to his service, and the PTSD rating was increased from 30 percent to 50 percent effective May 18, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from August 5, 1994 until September 3, 1996 and then increased to 50 percent from September 3, 1996 onwards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and to reopen a claim for a psychiatric disorder due to lack of corroborated in-service stressors and new evidence not being material.

The Board remands the claim for further development to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and to obtain a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, but no higher, throughout the period of appeal.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including verification of a claimed stressor and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was reopened and remanded, the claim for a heart condition (myocardial infarction) was denied, and the rating for PTSD was increased to 50 percent from August 16, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, ongoing panic attacks, depression, hypervigilance, irritability, suicidal ideation and a restricted affect. The Board denied the claim for an increased disability rating.