PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing and further development as requested by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right side of the neck have been withdrawn. The Veteran also withdrew his request to reopen his previously denied service-connection claim for pes planus.,The Veteran's appeal regarding an effective date earlier than February 25, 2008 for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, as it is at least as likely as not incurred in service due to noise exposure. The claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been presented. The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is linked to in-service stressors, including fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD and determining if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD). The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is currently in effect.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed. The appeal is also granted as the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and his scars are not rated higher due to the lack of specific details provided in the decision summary. The appeal for service connection for ulnar nerve injury was not addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, difficulty being in crowds, anger, irritability, depressed mood, hopelessness, decreased energy and weight gain, result in occupational and social impairment. However, total occupational and social impairment is not shown.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service, and to obtain VA treatment records. The claims for service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since June 2005, and the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his hearing loss or a rating higher than 50 percent for his PTSD from April 20, 2010.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case has been remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records, as well as potential consideration of total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is related to a stressor that occurred during his active duty service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder was granted, effective from December 31, 1984.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding service connection for PTSD due to questions about the Veteran's credibility and incomplete medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation for his dependent spouse, finding that the earliest possible effective date is September 1, 2010. The Veteran and his representative have argued that he was not notified of the need to provide updated dependency information until August 2010, which is after the effective date would be assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a foot disorder was previously denied in 1979, but new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim. The reopened claim is still pending and not yet decided.,Service connection for PTSD cannot be granted as there are no verified stressors associated with the Veteran's military service.