PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The appeal is now remanded to determine whether service connection should be granted for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since March 2006, and the RO denied his claims for higher ratings. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and left ear hearing loss. The case will be readjudicated after all available evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting moderate impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating, which reflects the severity of his symptoms such as occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to incomplete development of his claims, including failure to obtain his service personnel records and verify his claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to Stegall violations, including verifying stressor incidents and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been characterized by irritability, nightmares, periods of depression, some hallucinations and estrangement from others. The evidence does not show gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, and memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. Therefore, the Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was incurred as a result of his active service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with associated depression and polysubstance dependence is related to his in-service experiences, including an incident where a fellow soldier tripped a mine or trap. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's unit activities in Thailand and assessing his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional action and development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, but denied his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disorder, and skin disorders (claimed as dermatophytosis).

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of verified in-service stressors and the Veteran's failure to provide sufficient information for VA to attempt independent verification.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 50 percent disabling prior to March 11, 2008. The Board granted a 100 percent rating effective March 11, 2007.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical segments of the spine. The claim was based on direct service connection as there is no evidence of a pre-existing condition that became manifest during active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure. The claims for PTSD, left leg disability, low back disability, and bilateral hip disability are denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.