PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The veteran withdrew his appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for PTSD at his January 2007 hearing before the Board. The claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment, with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks; the right lower leg scar does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, headaches due to head trauma, and a chipped tooth due to dental trauma as there was no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic headache disorder, or dental condition resulting from combat wounds or other trauma during active military service.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for a left knee strain and noncompensable ratings for bilateral hallux valgus deformities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD and a personality disorder, to include any superimposed psychiatric disability, as additional development is necessary.

The Board remands the claim for further development, including verification of any claimed stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if there is a relationship between the verified stressor and the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU.

The appeal was dismissed for the issue of a disability rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus. The claim to reopen service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine was granted, and the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with MDD and a TDIU due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal was denied as there is no competent medical evidence of record that shows the Veteran is currently diagnosed with asbestosis, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for hearing loss.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors and a possible VA psychiatric examination.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as it was not timely filed and the December 2002 decision is final.

The Veteran does not have PTSD, skin cancer or a chronic skin disease, and/or a pulmonary disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his left knee sprain was denied as there is no evidence of subluxation, instability, or limitation of motion.

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, and he is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal is remanded for further development and adjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The appeal was partially granted, as the Veteran's PTSD was service-connected. The claims for increased rating of hearing loss and service connection for a right knee condition were not decided in this decision.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and verifying the Veteran's alleged stressors.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent, and his disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and a possible Travel Board hearing.