PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD and address inconsistencies in the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from VA facilities and private providers.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this disability. The evidence does not show that his condition warrants a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent, and his lumbar spine disorder does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and his claims for an increased initial rating for PTSD and a TDIU have been dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD based on new and material evidence, including a diagnosis of PTSD and corroborating evidence of stressor events in service. The case is now remanded to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 12, 2006. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and impairment in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. Service connection will be decided based on the merits of his claim.

The Veteran's right eye disorder is considered a congenital defect and not service-connected. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a rating of 50% since January 13, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a PTSD rating, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and reopening of his claim for residuals of a crush injury to the right foot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and PTSD due to a lack of sufficient information regarding his reported stressors. The RO/AMC must attempt to obtain private medical records, occupational audiometric testing records, and verify the Veteran's claimed stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by her active military service and denied her claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by significant impairment in social and occupational functioning, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury leading to current disabilities, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by symptoms such as sleep impairment, nightmares, frequent panic attacks, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, anger outbursts, anxiety, irritability, depression, hypervigilance, hyper-startle response, impulsive and aggressive behaviors, avoidance of crowds, social isolation, persistent avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, numbing of general responsiveness, mildly impaired memory, and difficulty concentrating. The Veteran has been neatly-groomed, appropriately dressed, alert, fully oriented, cooperative, and with good eye contact.

The Board found that the Veteran's in-service stressors have not been corroborated, and thus his claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to meet his claim for a higher rating. The hearing loss issue remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported in-service stressor, which included an attack involving rockets, mortars, and grenades, could not be verified. The evidence did not support his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for a cervical spine disorder, including secondary degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's claim was based on allegations of in-service stressors and abuse by her ex-husband, but there were no verified in-service stressors or evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to service.