PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective August 2001. The appeal for a higher rating remains in appellate status.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher disability evaluation beyond the currently assigned 50 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as he did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including a VA examination for PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and TDIU due to his service-connected residuals of multiple shell fragment wounds. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for depression. The evidence did not support the occurrence of the claimed stressors.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete compliance with previous instructions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence to support his claimed in-service stressors and thus failing to establish a valid diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and PTSD. The examiner found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, and concluded that the appellant does not have this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim of service connection for PTSD. The RO previously denied this claim in May 1998, but did not receive any new or material evidence since then.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and directed that additional development be undertaken.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, and the issue of secondary service connection for sensory motor neuropathy remains pending.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for PTSD and total unemployability due to PTSD was denied. The effective date of service connection for PTSD is set at January 17, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure due to a lack of competent medical evidence of current disabilities or a link between service and these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and tachycardia, finding no verifiable stressors supporting PTSD and noting that tachycardia was noted during service but is not a recognized disability under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to a final rating decision from August 1995, which did not include the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for PTSD. The RO took this action because the evidence did not establish that the veteran was unemployable due solely to PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is currently before the Board and requires additional development of his claims for PTSD, arthritis of the right hip, status post-total hip replacement, and coronary artery disease. The RO must obtain all relevant medical records, including those from SSA, VA, and private providers. They should also conduct any necessary examinations and re-adjudicate the claims based on the evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied an initial rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claim is now pending for a determination on whether service connection should be granted.