PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining updated medical records. The case will be re-adjudicated to determine the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify in-service stressors and obtain VA psychiatric treatment records.

The Board has ordered a remand to verify the Veteran's in-service stressor for PTSD and schedule him for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, sleep disturbance (secondary to PTSD), and hypertension. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by total occupational and social impairment, including gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, a persistent danger of hurting himself or others, the inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, and memory loss for names of close relatives. The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent disability rating since July 23, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD was denied. However, the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was granted with a 10% rating.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and to identify any stressors supporting such a diagnosis. The case is being remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, PTSD, and cysts on the face, arm, back, and thigh. The Veteran was granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome with a 10% rating effective September 3, 2004.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that his service in the U.S. Merchant Marines does not qualify as active military service and thus any stressors claimed during this period are not considered to be part of his service record.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was granted, with a 30 percent evaluation assigned for PTSD prior to October 26, 2007. The remaining claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim encompasses all of his current acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional information that may corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors and to schedule a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of all current psychiatric disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to a lack of documented evidence of in-service stressors and because there is no indication that his current PTSD is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin rashes, aches and joint pain, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fatigue, numbness of fingertips, and migraines. However, the criteria for service connection have not been met for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need to adjudicate his claim of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD, which is inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board after these issues are resolved.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service, including verifying in-service stressors for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD was incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection, but his spongiotic dermatitis claim is pending as the evidence does not establish a link to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed stressors were not verified, and thus there is no diagnosis of PTSD based on independently verifiable in-service stressor evidence. As a result, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 70 percent is warranted based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the in-service stressor.