PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a copy of the veteran's complete Official Military Personnel File and arranging for an examination to determine if there are verified stressors that could support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD for accrued benefits purposes and for the cause of death. The veteran had received a diagnosis of PTSD, but there was no credible evidence linking it to any in-service stressor. His liver disease leading to his death was not related to service or due to an inservice viral infection.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of his appeal, and veterans' claims do not survive their deaths.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the effective date for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been set as January 17, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any residuals of bilateral foot or leg injuries, and there is no diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for psychiatric disorders, heart/fatigue condition, arthritis, and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound were all denied. The VA found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warranted a 100% rating as of November 14, 1995, and granted an effective date for this rating.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent from December 2, 1993, to February 1, 1999. A TDIU was granted effective from February 1, 1999. The RO retroactively increased the initial rating for PTSD to 50 percent in August 1997 and then to 70 percent with a TDIU in April 2000.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, but the claim is denied on the merits.

The veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 70 percent effective June 12, 2001. The claim for a TDIU remains pending.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder such as OCD, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and skin polyps are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional information from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, and it is granted. The veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of a claimed in-service stressor and thus not meeting the requirements for service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f).

The Board has determined that the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and his PTSD is related to this service. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated during service, as his claimed stressors were not credible and there is no evidence of a combat injury. The claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran died from cardiopulmonary arrest due to advanced stage of Parkinson's disease and aspiration pneumonia. The cause of death is not attributable to service-connected conditions.