PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that there is no verifiable stressor to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations and provided anecdotal information regarding his experiences in Vietnam without credible supporting evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing to be conducted by a VLJ who will decide his service connection claim for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including determining appropriate ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder from October 16, 1991 to August 1, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD was incurred in active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD. The issue of cardiovascular disease is referred to the RO for further adjudication.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of each upper extremity was incurred during his active service due to repetitive motion injuries. Therefore, service connection for bilateral CTS is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and considering his claim for a TDIU. His service-connected disabilities include PTSD, hearing loss, left hand disabilities, tinnitus, and scars.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of July 29, 1999. The earlier September 1987 claim is deemed abandoned due to the Veteran's failure to respond within one year as requested by VA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder were denied in August 1994. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include manic depressive disorder, was reopened due to the submission of new evidence but remains denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected PTSD, which contributed substantially to cause his death.

PTSD is currently manifested by ongoing symptoms of depression, difficulty sleeping due to nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, irritability, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, problems with concentration, social isolation, and difficulty concentrating. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores range from 35-50, resulting in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but without total occupational and social impairment. PTSD is therefore rated at 70 percent disabling.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his PTSD claim. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral elbow condition, and right hip condition secondary to the service-connected residuals of a fracture of left distal fibula and posterior tibial malleolus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Board also found that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted, but his diabetes mellitus claim due to herbicide exposure was denied. The Board is remanding the PTSD issue for further development.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective from June 7, 2004. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is characterized by symptoms such as an angry and dysphoric mood, irritability and anger issues, difficulty sleeping due to nightmares, difficulty adapting to stressful situations, intrusive thoughts, intermittent suicidal ideation, and panic attacks. These symptoms are sufficient for a 70 percent disability rating but not higher.

The Veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital due to emergency room treatment on May 1 and May 2, 2007. The case is being remanded for additional development of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his current unemployability status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50% disability rating, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is attributable to his service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sycamore Shoals Hospital on February 5, 2007 are now covered by VA.