PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and right leg peripheral neuropathy. The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by symptoms such as disturbances of motivation and mood, with violent outbursts and physical confrontations. However, these symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by impairment in most of the areas of work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood without total social and occupational impairment. The criteria for a 70 percent rating for PTSD have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or sinusitis. The claim for increased rating of migraines remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory disorders, low back disorder, and PTSD have been previously denied. New evidence has not raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Veteran's right foot and heel disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether any current psychiatric disability is related to service, including whether it is due to a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 27, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying an in-service stressor for PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after further development, including a VA examination and notification of the entire JSRRC response.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and his right foot disability is service-connected. The Board found that the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD were not met, but granted service connection for a right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD related to service. The claim will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 2005, and the Board is granting a higher evaluation to 70 percent effective from January 28, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, now rated as 50 percent disabling, has caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and found that his other conditions (bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus) also preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his thoracolumbar strain with scoliosis and PTSD are not rated higher than the current levels.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing personnel records and verifying service stressors. The claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and fibromyalgia will be addressed along with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his combined disability rating is sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, lung disability, stomach disability, and bladder disability due to lack of verified stressors and insufficient medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from July 25, 2005 to July 28, 2008. The rating is maintained as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.