PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's experiences, including his participation in combat operations and exposure to stressors related to his military service, supported a diagnosis of PTSD. The bilateral defective hearing was not shown to be incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is incurred in active service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that it meets the criteria for a higher initial rating than 50 percent.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder, thoracic spine disorder, and PTSD due to a lack of medical evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and service.

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling, effective from October 16, 1997 to November 30, 1997. The appeal for a higher evaluation is granted as the disability picture more nearly approximates total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for a search of military records to corroborate specific stressors reported by the veteran. The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The case has been remanded to allow further consideration by the RO.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there are no longer any issues of fact or law for resolution by the Board due to the RO's decision granting service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical examinations.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 16, 2001 for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches was denied.,The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PID, currently rated as 10 percent disabling, was not granted earlier than May 29, 2001.

The veteran's claim for earlier effective date for additional benefits for a dependent son was denied as the RO had received all necessary forms within one year of notification and the veteran did not file them in time.

The veteran's claim for PTSD with a 100% evaluation was granted, effective from January 25, 1989. Retroactive compensation at $2,163 per month was awarded starting February 1, 1989.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the issues on appeal, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and providing a VA psychiatrist with an opinion regarding the etiology of any psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence submitted since the final denial in 1985, which includes potential stressors related to his Southeast Asia service. The diagnosis of PTSD is now of record and supports the reopening of the claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood, which she claimed as anxiety, nerves, depression, and PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 27, 2000 for a TDIU was denied as the criteria for such were not met.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted as of February 28, 2000, when his PTSD symptoms rendered him unable to work.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and left ear hearing loss, including due to exposure to ionizing radiation are pending. The appeal on the issue of service connection for exposure to ionizing radiation has been dismissed. Service connection was denied for allergic rhinitis, including due to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was incurred in service and is entitled to accrued benefits.