PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the veteran's claimed stressors. The veteran is asked to provide more details about his service-related stressful events and CURR will be requested to verify these events.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified stressor event in service. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that an effective date prior to February 14, 1996 for the grant of service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not warranted.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective July 1, 2000. The TDIU rating was also granted effective that date.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to August 23, 2004 and upgraded to 70 percent effective from that date.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his service, and thus could not establish PTSD based on combat exposure. The diagnosis of PTSD was deemed insufficient due to lack of corroborated in-service stressors.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD that is directly related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The examiner concluded that the obsessive-compulsive disorder began during military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no current diagnosis of the condition. The issue of PTSD was not ready for appellate review.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and seizure disorder, finding that the claimed stressors were not verified and there was no credible supporting evidence of their occurrence. The veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an increased disability rating beyond the current 50 percent, and his claim for TDIU is also denied.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and whether his claimed service stressors actually occurred. The VA will attempt to obtain additional medical records, verify the veteran's service stressors, and schedule a comprehensive psychiatric examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD based on new and material evidence submitted since the previous denial in March 1996. The issue of whether this claim should be granted on its merits is addressed in a separate REMAND.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, despite previous denial in April 1985.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of tinnitus. The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional evidence regarding PTSD, including a transcript from a 1981 trial and VA treatment records.

The veteran's claim for a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The VA has increased the veteran's PTSD rating to 30 percent, but his condition is still considered moderate with impairment in psychological, social, and occupational functioning.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence supports reopening the claim. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and addressing whether the December 1994 rating decision was final. The veteran's claim for an increased PTSD rating and TDIU are also being remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including compliance with VA procedures and a VA psychiatric examination.