PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. This includes attempting to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and obtaining all pertinent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an initial higher disability rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including consideration of a new VA PTSD assessment and report submitted by the Veteran. The Veteran should be notified about what constitutes material evidence to reopen his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since October 14, 2005. The appeal is for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was characterized by deficiencies in most areas of occupational and social functioning, including nightly sleep disturbance with nightmares, frequent intrusive thoughts, monthly flashbacks of experiences from Vietnam (which may include disorientation to time and place), occasional panic attacks, irritability, anger, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, and avoidance behavior. The Veteran's GAF score ranged from 50-61.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, meeting the criteria for a higher rating due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, and difficulty understanding complex commands.

The Veteran's claim of reopening his previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD, schizophrenia, and organic brain syndrome is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies.

The Veteran's claims for SMC and service connection for a bilateral leg disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine, PTSD, and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left upper thigh, substantially or materially contributed to his death from an automobile accident.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The issue includes consideration of entitlement to an increased disability rating for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to missing service treatment records and requests that she provide copies of all such records. The case will be readjudicated after these records are received.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not experience an in-service stressor and therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also denied as there is no evidence to support a diagnosis or etiology related to these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability other than PTSD and denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the July 2009 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and major depression are related to his service, specifically to traumas associated with racial prejudice he experienced while in service. The claim is therefore granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 19, 2000 for the grant of service connection for PTSD as there was no evidence of a diagnosis prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness secondary to service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence supporting the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete evidence and the need for a new examination.