PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service.

The veteran's appeal is about the initial 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected PTSD. The Board has decided to remand this case for further development and adjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and for PTSD. The denial was based on a lack of medical evidence supporting a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, linking the current diagnosis to a verified in-service stressor. The skin condition claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causation related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and PTSD, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and the need to obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension on a secondary basis, and automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for depression was also denied.

PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to March 28, 2003 and increased to 50 percent from March 28, 2003 to July 19, 2003. A rating of 70 percent has been granted effective July 20, 2003.,The veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied in August 2002 and affirmed in November 2002. The current TDIU award is effective March 28, 2003.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran filed a timely Substantive Appeal, thus granting service connection for PTSD on the merits.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating evaluation for PTSD is being remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with the appeal. The RO will schedule another examination and review the claims file to determine the severity and symptomatology of the veteran's PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD linked to an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying stressor events. The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability (due to Agent Orange exposure) and PTSD are also being reviewed.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence supports this reopening. A VA examination is required to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of the veteran's claimed PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing scheduled on September 13, 2004. The appellant was granted an opportunity to present her argument via another BVA Travel Board hearing at her local VA regional office.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, and his claim for a total rating for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted. The decision does not specify the effective date.

The veteran's claim is granted, and he is now eligible for a higher initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hypertension, finding that there was no medical evidence of a current diagnosis or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective date for a grant of service connection for PTSD is December 4, 1998. As this is the current effective date assigned, the veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date must be denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or exceed the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent.