PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes and PTSD, significantly contributed to his death from liver failure.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed due to his death before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disability did not begin during his period of service and there was no evidence linking it to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic urinary tract infection, and entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for trichomonas vaginitis. The issue of multiple non-compensable disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore denied his claim of service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD with a history of schizophrenic reaction was granted a rating of 70 percent effective July 1, 1995.

The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable prior to September 24, 2001 that the veteran's PTSD had increased in severity or that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death (cardiac arrest) was not caused or substantially contributed to by his service-connected PTSD or diabetes. The appeal for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is also denied as there is no evidence showing the veteran had been entitled to a total disability rating due to service-connected disabilities for ten years prior to death.

The Board granted effective dates of August 10, 1998 for PTSD and June 2, 1993 for a 10% evaluation for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right upper arm. The veteran's claims were based on new evidence that reopened his previously denied claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an effective date earlier than April 11, 2004, for a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD with alcohol abuse and personality disorder, for service connection of alcohol abuse secondary to service-connected PTSD, and for TDIU due to service-connected disability prior to April 11, 2004.

The veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to establish service connection for PTSD.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a right upper extremity injury and granted service connection for PTSD. The veteran's right upper extremity injury is considered to have been incurred in service, and his PTSD is found to be related to an in-service stressful event.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete verification of the veteran's reported in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent since January 16, 1996, based on severe social and industrial impairment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD.