PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of VCAA compliance and incomplete treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disability and assigned an initial noncompensable evaluation, effective July 15, 2002. The veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for his service-connected heart disability is now at the highest available level under VA regulations.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the veteran's PTSD, which was initially rated at 50 percent.

The veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran's service at Fort Knox, Kentucky qualifies as a stressor for PTSD. The claim will be reviewed again after this information is obtained.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was incurred during her INACDUTRA status in July 1974, specifically after she reported being raped by a soldier. The evidence supports this finding and service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an increased rating for tinnitus, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to VCAA compliance issues.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD, when evaluated under the criteria for rating psychiatric disabilities, warrants a 70 percent disability evaluation but not higher.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by severe symptoms including depression, suicidal ideation, nightmares, sleep disturbance, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD are met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU, finding that VA had properly assigned the August 25, 1999 effective date based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination at the correctional facility where he is incarcerated.

The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is reasonably attributable to his service, including exposure to combat-compatible circumstances during Southeast Asia operations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability are also being addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service stressors, and insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to any verified events.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including verifying stressor events for PTSD and obtaining medical records related to his hypertension.

The Board has received notification from the appellant that they wish to withdraw their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for DM due to incomplete VCAA notice, need for additional VA treatment records, and need for further development.

The veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for a 70 percent rating for PTSD and for a TDIU remains on appeal. The RO determined that these grants should be assigned an earlier effective date of March 11, 1999.