PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and determine if service connection can be established for PTSD.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder was granted a 70 percent rating, and his hemorrhoids were denied a compensable rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the validity of his service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from September 11, 2000, and increased to 70 percent effective November 27, 2001. The rating agency found that the veteran's symptoms warranted a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further medical examination and evaluation of his PTSD.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date prior to January 29, 2001 for the grant of service connection for PTSD based on a liberalizing VA issue in April 1980. However, he must show that he met all eligibility criteria for this benefit as of the retroactive effective date and had continuous entitlement up to his claim.

The veteran's death during the appeal process means that the Board has no jurisdiction to decide the merits of his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded to the RO for further development of evidence, including obtaining records of psychiatric treatment during his service in California and a psychiatric evaluation at HQ, USARPAC G2.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 29, 1997 for a TDIU due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected PTSD and back disorder had caused him to be unemployable prior to that date.

The Board found that the veteran's service connection claim for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied as there were no findings attributed to PTSD in service records and his alleged stressor event could not be verified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is a result of his active military service, and thus grants the claim.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and his claim for a TDIU was denied due to the severity of his substance abuse issues.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and the provision of additional records.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD effective November 7, 2001. The veteran is also entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability effective November 7, 2001.

The RO has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hearing loss in the left ear, but denied all other issues on appeal. The case is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing.

The VA has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's PTSD and whether it renders him unemployable. The VA will also review all relevant outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for PTSD and hypertension due to incomplete development of evidence, including verification of alleged in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, arranging for a psychiatric examination, and considering whether to grant a higher initial rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent evaluation, effective April 30, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and right knee and hip disability. The claim of reopening the left hip disability was granted based on new evidence.,Service connection for residuals of a left knee injury is not established, as there is no direct or secondary relationship to service-connected conditions.