PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to April 18, 2005 and from April 18, 2005 to January 15, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disorder, and PTSD due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it was incurred during active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD attributable to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 10% prior to January 9, 2007 and increased to 30% thereafter. The current rating of 30% is maintained.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially or materially contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 have also not been met.

The Veteran's back disorder, heart disorder (to include hypertension), and tuberculosis were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting conditions existed prior to his entry into service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for further review after the necessary evidence is obtained.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and thus denied his claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous evaluation of his service-connected PTSD, as there may have been a significant change in his condition since his last examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the grant of service connection in June 2002. The current rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, glaucoma, lumbar degenerative joint disease, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and chest pain due to a sternum injury as chronic disabilities resulting from an undiagnosed illness. The claims were remanded on the theory of direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of a claimed stressor and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria for increased disability.

The Veteran's initial rating for his generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD features has been increased to 30 percent, effective from May 15, 2001. Service connection was granted for hypertension and a seizure disorder, but the Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and attempting to verify an in-service stressor for PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and PTSD have not presented so exceptional or unusual a disability picture as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards, thus no higher rating on an extra-schedular basis is warranted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is related to an in-service parachute jump mishap, and service connection for this condition is granted.