PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is on appeal, as well as whether the appellant's service-connected PTSD makes him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal is for a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus. The RO has requested additional information from the Veteran, obtained VA treatment records, and scheduled an examination to determine if he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for PTSD, including a need for notification of alternate sources of evidence and an examination to determine if the Veteran's behaviors indicate a personal assault occurred in service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder, and schizoid personality disorder. The case is being remanded to provide the Veteran with a VA medical examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are shown to be productive of no more than an occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupation tasks. The criteria for assignment of a higher rating have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as he did not engage in combat with the enemy and his reported stressors have not been verified.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating for hearing loss or tinnitus, and did not establish service connection for PTSD, schizophrenia, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, or Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a 70 percent rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, chronic low back disorder, and PTSD were all denied. The Board found no current evidence of a chronic lung disability or a chronic low back disorder. Regarding PTSD, the claim was reopened but not granted as there is insufficient evidence to establish that the claimed stressor occurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a VA examination for PTSD. The case will be reviewed again based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 28, 2005. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that a claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for verification of service periods.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because the claimed stressor of a sniper attack during service could not be verified, and there is no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his statement. The Board found that the diagnosis of PTSD based on an unconfirmed stressor cannot establish service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD with a 30% rating, and his left ankle fracture was rated at 10%. No effective date is provided.