PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the veteran's symptoms, including irritability, hypervigilance, sleep impairment, depression and anxiety, social isolation, and alcohol abuse with short term memory loss, resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The current 30 percent evaluation adequately reflects the veteran's disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors and thus failing to meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the required VCAA notice.

The veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is not in excess of what is warranted.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting moderate impairment in occupational and social functioning. The claim for TDIU was also granted.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his period of service from March 18, 1965 to June 17, 1971 was under other than honorable conditions and therefore a bar to any benefits stemming from this period. The evidence did not link his current PTSD diagnosis to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and there is credible supporting evidence linking this condition to in-service stressors. As such, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The veteran's schizophrenia with PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of impairment.

The Board denied service connection for schizoaffective disorder and PTSD, but granted a 10% disability evaluation for residuals of a scalp laceration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to inadequate notice and a need for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The VA has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeals were timely filed, and all issues are now open for de novo review.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to incomplete evidence and a need to obtain additional treatment records.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of PTSD is November 6, 2000. The claim for an increased rating for the gunshot wound to the right upper arm remains denied.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, the highest schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing PTSD did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during or as a result of active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate notification and assistance in connection with the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 24, 2001 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The RO had previously assigned a 30 percent rating in March 1997 and later increased it to 70 percent on July 24, 2001.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective March 21, 2001.,Tinnitus was not service-connected. The veteran's coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and congestive heart failure are also not service-connected.