PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The veteran meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, but does not meet the criteria for being housebound due to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 17, 1993, for service connection for PTSD.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no credible evidence of a diagnosis and no indication that any claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to November 1, 2002, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as a matter of law.

The Board determined that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 50 percent since April 14, 2003.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, resulting in a rating of 10 percent being appropriate.

The veteran's PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent. The veteran's PTSD also does not preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and previous work experience.

The veteran's PTSD with dysthymia is rated at 50 percent, which the Board finds to be appropriate given the moderate social and occupational impairment.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of PTSD and the etiology of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim to reopen service connection for hepatitis C was granted.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claim.

The veteran's service-connected femoral phlebitis of the left lower extremity is not more disabling than currently rated at 20 percent. The veteran's PTSD has been increased to a 70 percent rating effective January 24, 2008.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated as 30 percent disabling prior to December 4, 2007, and increased to 70 percent from that date.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded to the RO for further development.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a more recent VA examination.

The veteran's service connection claim for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was granted based on the current diagnosis and credible in-service combat stressors.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including a flat affect, depression, anxiety, hypersomnia, occasional panic attacks, conflicts with co-workers, some memory impairment, and social isolation outside his immediate family. The Board finds that the current 50 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of the veteran's PTSD.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was granted, but no specific effective date or rating percentage was assigned.