PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a request for information from the veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to PTSD and diabetes. The veteran's claim for reopening of his PTSD claim is also being considered.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder was incurred in active military service and granted his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is incurred in service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD from July 14, 1995 to September 25, 1997. The case is now remanded for proper implementation of this rating and additional development.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression with psychotic features, effective October 20, 2004.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, substance abuse secondary to PTSD, and tinnitus. The claims of new and material evidence for hearing loss and back injury have also been granted. Increased ratings for scarring and left varicocele are denied, but a TDIU is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a back disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The current back disorder was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD due to a sexual assault during basic training and granted service connection based on new evidence.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, and the RO found that it does not warrant a higher rating. The RO also denied entitlement to a compensable rating for lumbosacral strain and TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and increased evaluation for tinea pedis, finding that new evidence did not support reopening his claim. The compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the right fifth metacarpal was also denied.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms from February 25, 1982, to August 23, 1998, resulted in mild impairment of social and industrial adaptability. The VA determined that the veteran was not entitled to a higher rating for this period.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus could not establish service connection for PTSD based on a claimed stressor related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, a back injury, hepatitis C, and hypertension and heart condition. The Board found no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal to increase his PTSD evaluation from 30 percent was timely filed, and he is now entitled to a rating of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining personnel records and investigating the alleged assault by a Master Sergeant, is necessary to properly adjudicate the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent, as his symptoms do not include gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene), disorientation to time or place, and memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or his own name.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss disability and PTSD, finding that there was no valid basis in fact for these decisions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional evidence from the Social Security Administration and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The RO must also determine whether extra-schedular consideration is warranted for his PTSD.