PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's initial evaluations for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and PTSD are denied as the maximum schedular ratings have been assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 23, 2004 for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities has been denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and notification.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete information and need for clarification of previous medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of rationale in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus, which occurred from the same etiology or action, meet the schedular threshold for a TDIU on May 11, 2007. The effective date of this decision is set at May 11, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA psychiatric or psychological examination to assess his occupational functioning during the relevant period and whether any impairment in that function was due to PTSD symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and determine if they meet the criteria for service connection of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, providing corrective notice regarding PTSD service connection regulations, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remands and a need for new opinions from cardiology specialists.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors and his testimony alone cannot establish the occurrence of a stressor. The Board also found that any other acquired psychiatric disability did not arise during active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining treatment records from Vet Centers and readjudicating the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verification of an in-service stressor, and found that there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressful event which qualified as a PTSD stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 50 percent, as it does not cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder related to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and reconsidering the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were generally granted, with some issues remanded. The cervical spine disability was granted a higher rating after April 26, 2006, while other conditions like gastritis, hemorrhoids, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome in the left wrist, PTSD, tinnitus, hypertension, and vertigo/dizziness (claimed as dizziness) were not established as service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from March 25, 2005. This rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that his claimed stressors were consistent with his military service and sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD, thus granting the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 11, 2008. The appeal is granted for a higher rating.