PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for the service-connected PTSD, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather a request for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the veteran's neck condition and PTSD.

The VA has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from August 7, 2002.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and a higher initial disability evaluation for his cervical spine condition. The Board finds that neither claim is warranted based on the evidence presented.

The Board found that the veteran does not have degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine attributable to his period of military service and denied service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is part of the overall appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a direct link between the claimed conditions and military service.

The veteran's claim for a 100% evaluation for PTSD is denied as the law does not provide for retroactive compensation at the specified rate.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of recent treatment records.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied as there is no competent evidence showing current disabilities or a link to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The issues of service connection for PTSD, low back disorder, and residuals of frostbite are still under consideration.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's PTSD, effective from when his claim was received in September 1998. The evidence shows that he experiences symptoms of PTSD such as anxiety, nightmares, sleep difficulties, intrusive thoughts, angry outbursts, and flat affect. These symptoms result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's appeal is on whether he should receive a higher initial disability evaluation for his PTSD. The RO must obtain additional medical records and arrange for the veteran to undergo a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent evaluation, reflecting moderate impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board found that there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his claim for a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability. The case is remanded to provide proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residual scarring from shell fragment wounds of the left chest and thigh was denied, but his PTSD claim resulted in an increased rating to 70 percent effective November 17, 1997. The decision is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed stressors and because of the need for additional VA examination.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which the Board has remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for PTSD and spastic twitches as a result of herbicide exposure due to lack of new and material evidence.