PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear verification of combat stressors and a need for an opinion on whether PTSD can be diagnosed based on fear of hostile military activity. The Veteran's service in Korea is considered, but further evidence is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to July 17, 2006, and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The current rating of 70 percent is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) at the housebound rate due to his age and combined disability rating of 100 percent. The issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is service-connected as it is related to his in-service parachute accident.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to service, and the initial rating of 20 percent for hypertension prior to September 4, 2009, has been granted.,A subsequent increase in the rating to 40 percent was granted effective from September 4, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to October 29, 2008 and increased to 70 percent as of that date. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, as there is no evidence of a verified combat stressor. The Board found that the diagnosis of PTSD is based on personal assault during service but could not corroborate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for PTSD and perforated duodenal ulcer are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since January 12, 2004 and increased to 70 percent effective from January 9, 2006. The Board is granting a higher rating of 100 percent for PTSD as of April 14, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's in-service stressors are verified and his symptoms are related to these events.

The Veteran's appeal is for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected PTSD. The RO/AMC will schedule a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current severity of the PTSD and readjudicate the claim based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted in December 2007, with a 30% rating effective February 2005. In February 2009, the VA increased his rating to 50%, effective October 21, 2008. The Veteran is seeking further increases in ratings for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD was denied by the Board in September 2009. The case is now being remanded to consider whether a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) should be considered, and to obtain updated medical evidence including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, cold injury of the feet, and cold injury of the hands prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for PTSD. The VA is instructed to verify the alleged inservice stressors and obtain clarifications on medical findings from a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 12, 2004, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of total occupational and social impairment due to persistent hallucinations and disorientation to time and place.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining recent VA medical records and possibly scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and ischemic heart disease are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD have been denied. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not met the criteria for a higher disability rating from May 31, 2005 to January 12, 2007 or from January 12, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran was not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, as the May 2006 VA examination showed he had Level III hearing impairment in his right ear and Level I hearing impairment in his left ear. For PTSD, the Veteran's disability caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks from January 15, 2004 to May 18, 2008, and since then has caused reduced reliability and productivity.