PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder. The issue is currently in a 'mixed' disposition, meaning some aspects may be granted while others are not.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his withdrawal of all appeals before the Board could make a decision.

The veteran's PTSD caused symptoms such as insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, depression, a startle response, and intrusive thoughts about his combat experiences. However, there was no evidence of flattened affect, disturbance of speech, true panic attacks, impairment of memory, judgment, insight, difficulty or disturbance in motivation.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling for the period from June 11, 2001 to December 9, 2002 and as 70 percent disabling thereafter. The Board finds that neither of these ratings are in excess of what is warranted.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and depression were denied as there is no evidence of in-service stressors or a current diagnosis, respectively.,Service connection was not granted for the motor vehicle accident injuries due to lack of verified service-connected conditions. The claim for Agent Orange exposure was also denied.,Bilateral hearing loss was found not compensable.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, and assigned a 30 percent rating for PTSD. The veteran's other claims have been remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD was granted, with the earliest possible effective date being September 26, 1995.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's PTSD, which is more than the current 50 percent assigned. The disability now meets the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted a 100% disability rating for PTSD effective March 4, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional information regarding the veteran's claimed stressors in Vietnam, which is necessary to corroborate his PTSD diagnosis and establish service connection.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder was granted a 50 percent evaluation effective September 29, 1999. The appeal for an increased rating beyond this level is denied.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining military personnel records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and thus no basis to establish service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria for PTSD on April 11, 1980 and such eligibility did not exist continuously to June 7, 2002.

The veteran's claims for increased rating for PTSD and total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent, but the Board increased it to 50 percent. The case is now remanded for further review.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder and PTSD were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied both claims.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, otitis externa, and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the veteran. However, further development is needed to verify the in-service exposure that could support these claims.

The veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.