PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, sleep impairment, nightmares, hypervigilance, anger, irritability, mild memory loss, and impaired social and work relationships.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee and right foot injury, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (major depressive disorder), a right knee disability, and kidney cancer. The denial is based on lack of new and material evidence to reopen the claim for residuals of a left knee and right foot injury, insufficient evidence of in-service stressors for PTSD, no current right knee disability, and no link between kidney cancer and active service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The issue of a TDIU rating due to diabetes mellitus, type 2 is also addressed on remand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because the medical evidence did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including consideration of service connection for major depression and alcohol abuse secondary to PTSD. The RO must also consider whether all service-connected disabilities prevent the Veteran from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen a back disability was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of his service dates and further development of his PTSD and hearing loss claims.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, residuals of frostbite, or PTSD due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses from February 20, 2005 to February 21, 2005 and on February 28, 2005 were denied as the care was not authorized in advance by VA.,VA facilities were feasibly available at the time the private medical care was rendered.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his coronary artery disease and service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and peripheral vascular disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a traveling Veterans Law Judge. The case will be returned to the Board if necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sensorineural hearing loss, traumatic amputation of the right thumb, hypertension, and tinnitus, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will also be afforded VA examinations to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and workers compensation records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and drug addiction was denied as there is no current disability, and the substance abuse in service was due to willful misconduct.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is found to be causally linked to a stressor event in service and thus granted service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder, were found to be incurred as a result of active service. Service connection was granted for these conditions.