PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service connection claim for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PSD) is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his symptoms are related to his fear associated with exposure to hostile forces during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective January 29, 2007. The disability rating remains unchanged from the previous decision.

The Board has declined to reopen the claims for PTSD, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety (mild easy startle response), suspiciousness (mild hypervigilance), and chronic sleep impairment. The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the reduction of compensation benefits due to incarceration for a felony conviction, effective from December 14, 1991, to October 16, 1995.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further medical opinions regarding service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied in August 2007. The RO assigned a 100 percent schedular evaluation effective from December 12, 2006. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted and denied the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify his claimed stressors and obtain missing service treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The medical evidence, including a VA examination report, concluded that PTSD was not at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's coronary artery disease and eventual death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD was granted, with the effective date being November 2002.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection based on his character of discharge during his period of active service from February 26, 1965 to December 16, 1970.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file, including obtaining VA examination reports referenced in previous decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not render him unemployable due to his ability to control symptoms in order to maintain employment. The VA examiner found the Veteran's presentation of symptoms exaggerated.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are related to in-service stressors, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD were related to his active service. The Board found that these conditions contributed substantially and materially to the cause of death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from an innocently acquired psychiatric disability that had its clinical onset during his period of active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records from Dr. Lozinski.