PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a Travel Board hearing as to the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. Additionally, the case is remanded for further development regarding the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) warrants a 70 percent evaluation since October 29, 2001.

The appeal is remanded to further develop the evidence regarding the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and obtain additional medical records.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to his combat experiences in Vietnam.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO for a more contemporaneous examination of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent due to symptoms such as hypervigilance, panic attacks, nightmares, flattened affect, social avoidance, difficulty in dealing with social gatherings and some work situations, irritability and depression.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and action.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and migraine headaches, claimed as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.,The Veteran's neck disorder is not related to his military service.,The Veteran's liver disorder is not related to his military service.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 10 percent since January 3, 2008.,The Veteran's right hand disability does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's right leg disability does not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's left hip disorder does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent from February 19, 2004 to January 14, 2008 and 70 percent since January 14, 2008.,The Veteran's left leg thrombophlebitis does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's left leg aneurysm does not cause claudication.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the Veteran was not diagnosed with PTSD by a qualified medical professional.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disability as the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or sufficient hearing impairment to qualify as a disability for VA purposes.

The Board remands the claim for further development to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and, if verified, schedule a VA examination.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide the veteran with an appropriate supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to manifest in depressed mood, anxiety, some irritability, sleep impairment, occasional panic attacks and mild memory loss but without the severity required for a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and right index finger injury residuals due to the lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors and the absence of a verified history.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder, service connection for cold injury residuals of the hands, feet, toes, and joints, and service connection for residuals of heat exposure, to include hives, were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected scrotal disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to February 28, 2007, and was increased to 20 percent from that date. The Board found no evidence of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis of the bilateral hips and knees, neuropathy of the right and left hand, sleep apnea, and PTSD were withdrawn by the appellant prior to promulgation of a decision.