PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the claims.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that they were not related to his military service.

The appeal is remanded to the Appeals Management Center for further development of evidence related to an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for the purpose of scheduling a Board hearing using videoconferencing techniques.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder, left leg shell fragment wounds with retained metallic foreign body, and left thigh shell fragment wound with retained metallic foreign body.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and arthritis of the feet, but denied service connection for a disorder of the left arm or shoulder.

The veteran's coronary artery disease and PTSD were evaluated, with the former denied an increase in rating while the latter was granted a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was denied because there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred, and a diagnosis of PTSD was not based on a verified in-service stressful event. The claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus is deferred pending further development.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, described as a left shoulder and rhomboid muscle strain.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, while the claims for diabetes mellitus, prostate problems, and a skin condition were denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was remanded for further development and evidence verification.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, generalized joint pain, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for GERD, a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and evaluations in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent for the lumbar spine disability.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is remanded to the RO for further development, including verification of stressors and consideration under Pentecost v. Principi.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, as it is manifested by such symptoms as occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function appropriately and effectively, impaired impulse control with unprovoked irritability, periods of violence, nightmares, and an inability to establish effective relationships.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximated the criteria for a 70 percent initial rating from February 10, 2005.

The veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, including work, family relations and mood, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, persistent nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The Board finds that the evidence supports the assignment of a 70 percent rating.

The appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the veteran's psychiatric disorder, including whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity and all manifestations of his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms including suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively, impaired impulse control, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work-like setting), and the inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.