PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's coloboma of the left eye was a congenital defect and not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection for this condition. The psychiatric claim is pending.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a direct relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's gastritis has been manifested by daily pain and discomfort, nausea, constipation, vomiting, and diarrhea. The Board finds that a noncompensable rating is appropriate as the evidence does not show any severe impairment of health or recurrent incapacitating episodes averaging at least four times per year.,There is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the Veteran's record. The acquired psychiatric disorder to include dysthymic disorder and PTSD was not shown in service, nor has it been related to a disease or injury of service origin.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as there is no schedular basis for the assignment of a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and his malaria does not warrant a compensable evaluation. The claim to reopen service connection for acne was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for chloracne was also denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records, ensure proper examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, and consider entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors. The Veteran is also reminded of his obligation to cooperate with VA in obtaining relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and he is entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar strain disability. The issue regarding the compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and the need for further development regarding in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered, with a VA examination if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of her PTSD and thoracic spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by irritability, anxiety, depression, a constricted or flattened affect, impaired concentration, disturbances of motivation and mood, impaired memory, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on both PTSD and degenerative arthritis, right knee claims prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 11, 2008. The Board found that the disability more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for PTSD and individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was denied. The current rating of 50% for PTSD is deemed insufficient.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 26, 1998. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.