PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of corroborating evidence supporting the claimed stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 13, 2002 for service connection for PTSD, finding that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen his claim prior to this date.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO granted a total evaluation based on individual unemployability effective April 14, 2003.

The veteran was granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, with an effective date of July 23, 1993.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between the claimed in-service stressor and current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 70 percent effective March 25, 2003. The TDIU claim was also granted with the same effective date.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 50 percent rating under the criteria set forth in VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of corroboration for the veteran's claimed in-service stressors. The VA is instructed to request information from the Center for Research of Unit Records (CRUR) to provide any available information that might corroborate the appellant's alleged in-service stressors, including copies of the USS Duluth's log book.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is reasonably attributable to service. The evidence supports a finding of in-service stressors leading to current psychiatric problems.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and verify stressor incidents.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there is no verified in-service stressor and no evidence of a pre-existing condition that was aggravated by military service. The veteran served in Korea, not Vietnam.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, but remanded his claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that Hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim. The issue of PTSD is pending as it involves a new and material evidence claim.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from July 7, 2005 to July 18, 2005 is granted due to prior authorization being obtained and the emergency nature of his admission.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was previously rated at 10 percent and granted a temporary 100 percent rating. The current claim seeks an increased rating for PTSD, but the Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded to the RO for further review and consideration.