PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran did not have combat service and an alleged in-service stressor was not corroborated by official records or any other supportive evidence. The preponderance of the evidence is against a current diagnosis of PTSD linked to a verified in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of stressors in his military service and thus denying the claim.

The veteran's PTSD was found to be in remission and his COPD was rated at 30 percent from December 2, 1998 onwards.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA mental status examination to determine the severity of his PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be developed by the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD resulted in some occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation. The claim for earlier effective date was denied as there is no evidence of worsening within one year prior to February 12, 2001. There was also no clear and unmistakable error found in the April 1965 rating decision.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational impairment and severe social impairment from April 19, 2000 to November 17, 2003. The VA determined that the disability alone rendered him unable to work in gainful occupations during this period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. This includes obtaining medical records, verifying stressors, and possibly scheduling an examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Type I diabetes mellitus, finding no credible evidence of these conditions. The claim for malaria was also denied as there is no current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as there is no evidence showing he met all eligibility criteria for service connection on April 1980, when the VA rating schedule added a specific provision for evaluating PTSD. The earliest eligible date for service connection is June 22, 2000.

The VA denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has found that the veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than May 12, 1994 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The issue of entitlement to a higher evaluation remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or verified stressor events in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of new evidence submitted by the appellant's attorney.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, which has been in effect since June 1981. The Board found that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the date of initial entitlement, and a 70 percent rating was granted as of March 18, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed PTSD was not incurred or aggravated by military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran did not become unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 12, 1992. Therefore, an effective date earlier than May 12, 1992 for TDIU is not warranted.