PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to new regulations and the need for a VA psychiatric evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a VA PTSD examination. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD will be reconsidered after the completion of these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and adjudication, including consideration of a recently amended regulation regarding in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and rescheduling the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to her fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, specifically in connection with Operation Desert Storm. The claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there is credible evidence to corroborate the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors and a relationship between his current PTSD and his time in active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by intrusive memories, sleep disturbances, irritability, exaggerated startle response, infrequent panic attacks, and diminished interest in social activity resulting in mild to moderate social and occupational impairment. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on credible evidence of an in-service stressor related to fear of hostile military activity. The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for lumbar spine and right leg/ankle disabilities are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a seizure disorder and PTSD, finding that there was no persuasive medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and depressive disorder, has been rated at 30 percent since February 27, 2006. The Board found that the symptoms have primarily manifested by depressive symptoms, irritability, and sleep disturbance, without occupational or social impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible stressor events and an inadequate examination to determine if he has a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as his claimed in-service stressors could not be verified.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as his current diagnosis of PTSD is related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for a permanent 100 percent disability evaluation for PTSD has been granted, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining issues of fact or law to be reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 7, 1997, for his grant of a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran was found not to have been entitled to a TDIU prior to this date as he had remained employed until then.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is reasonably associated with his service stressors and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and determining the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is service connected, and he is assigned a separate 10 percent rating for each of his scars. The RO increased the initial rating from 20 percent to 10 percent effective April 2009.