PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of service connection for PTSD, and thus the claim to reopen is denied.

For the period prior to January 12, 2007, the Veteran's PTSD was productive of symptoms including sleeplessness, anger, social isolation, nightmares at least five times per week, multiple panic attacks weekly, impaired memory, and flashbacks. However, these symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating due to lack of flattened affect, circumstantial or stereotyped speech, difficulty in understanding complex commands, or impaired judgment and abstract thinking.,From January 12, 2007, while the Veteran's PTSD worsened with frequent thoughts of suicide, at no time did it meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to lack of suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, speech intermittently illogical or irrelevant, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, gross impairment in thought processes, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current psychiatric diagnosis and whether it is related to his period of active service. The issue remains about service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors for PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after verifying the claimed stressors.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during his service in Vietnam and has been diagnosed with PTSD related to rocket and small arms fire. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of a disability picture that most nearly approximates total occupational and social impairment, warranting an evaluation of 100 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is not found to warrant a rating higher than the current 70 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and that the Veteran's knee conditions did not meet the criteria for compensable ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted, and a 50 percent disability rating was assigned. The diabetes mellitus claim resulted in a grant of an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was incurred in service and is granted. His alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal disability, skin rash, heart disease, and respiratory condition are all found to be aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's stressors are supported by his statements, but VA is unable to corroborate them due to lack of official records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is insufficient evidence to verify the claimed in-service stressors and no diagnosis of PTSD due to a specific service stressor has been established.

The Board is reopening the claim for service connection for PTSD on the basis of new and material evidence. However, the claims for service connection for hypertension, glaucoma, and a foot disability are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported stressors and a need for additional development, including verification of an alleged ship rescue incident.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to March 11, 2008. From that date onwards, the rating was increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claim, including obtaining SSA records and providing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that further evidence is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and to determine if he meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD. The case is therefore being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and verification of stressor events.