PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50% effective January 8, 2009, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination of his service-connected PTSD, which has been rated at 30 percent since June 2005. The Veteran contends that his PTSD has worsened and he seeks an increased rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. For PTSD, a rating of 50 percent prior to April 5, 2005, and greater than 50 percent thereafter has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected, while his initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records from April 2004 onwards. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and increased evaluation of service-connected headaches will be reconsidered with these new records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete legible copies of outpatient treatment records and an opinion as to the effect that his service-connected disabilities have on his employability. The case will be further adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's currently demonstrated vitiligo is found to be likely due to service, including his time in Vietnam. Service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of service connection for PTSD remains pending as the evidence does not provide sufficient information to make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as his diagnosis of PTSD is linked to in-service stressors that have been verified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and a cardiac disorder (coronary artery disease and tachycardia) have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service stressors related to PTSD, and that there was no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are related to service, including PTSD. The Veteran claims he witnessed two prisoners get shot and killed by military police officers during basic training at Fort Knox in May 1968.

All claims for service connection were denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the appellant's claimed conditions or exposure to potential causative agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim should be remanded to determine if he has any psychiatric disorder related to service, including PTSD due to a claimed stressor. The Veteran must provide additional information regarding dates and places of attacks he witnessed either in person or over the radio.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an examination.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a low back disability, finding no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the PTSD service connection is granted. The claim for an increased rating of his lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected herpes genitalis and PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD warranted a 70% disability evaluation, effective February 9, 2005. The appeal is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that an earlier effective date was warranted.