PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and determine if they are sufficient to establish service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, but has not found any evidence of a current diagnosis or link between the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and his current PTSD.

The Board denied the claims of entitlement to service connection for shrapnel wound to the back, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a cold weather injury, and PTSD. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asbestosis, is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that no earlier effective date is warranted based on the evidence and applicable regulations.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at a 30 percent disability level, effective October 9, 2001. The RO found that the veteran's PTSD meets the criteria for this rating based on occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left shoulder disability and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating. The veteran was also found ineligible for pension benefits due to lack of wartime service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were partially granted, with an evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD effective March 2, 2004. The issues regarding prior to March 2, 2004 remain pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to completion of its appellate review. The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, but the claim was denied on the basis of the absence of a credibly supported stressor associated with his diagnosed PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which was increased from a previous rating of 10 percent. The VA determined that the current level of disability does not warrant an increase beyond this rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for the occurrence of stressors during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric reexamination to determine if the appellant has PTSD and whether it is related to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and found that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports a diagnosis of PTSD. However, the Board also determined that there is no medical evidence showing that the current diagnosed PTSD is related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor and thus no basis to establish a link between current symptoms and an in-service event.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches due to a motor vehicle accident and PTSD. The initial disability rating for the veteran's lumbar spine DJD remains pending.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating, effective October 2001. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating beyond this level.

The veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, but the claim is remanded due to insufficient verification of claimed stressors and need for a current VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for SSA disability benefits records, VA medical records from Biloxi and Gulfport VA Medical Centers, and inpatient clinical records from a private hospital. The veteran's representative will be notified of any further action required.