PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to April 29, 2004. After a subsequent increase in rating to 70 percent effective April 29, 2004, the RO granted an initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD as of June 1, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of stressors for PTSD and whether the veteran engaged in combat. The claim will be reviewed after additional development, including obtaining more specific information about duty stations and attacks on those stations.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and right ankle disability in November 1988. The veteran is now seeking to reopen his claim for right ankle disability, but the evidence does not support reopening of this claim.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development, including obtaining updated VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling the appellant for a VA psychiatric examination to assess her PTSD. The TDIU claim also requires additional information from the appellant.

The VA has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's PTSD, effective October 11, 2001. The current symptoms include anger and irritability but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms that are productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board finds that the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation have been met, granting a higher rating than initially assigned.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 13, 2000 for service connection of PTSD was denied as the regulations do not provide for assigning an earlier effective date than the date of receipt of the reopened claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending as the Board has not made a final decision on this issue.,The veteran's claim to reopen his heart disorder, including paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT), is now reopened based on new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The veteran's PTSD caused occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks from January 28, 1999, to October 15, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and hiatal hernia/GERD, finding that the veteran's conditions are not related to his military service or service-connected PTSD.,Service connection was also denied as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board finds that the veteran's reported combat stressors are credible, and he has been diagnosed with PTSD. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and PTSD. The decision found that there was no current hearing loss disability, and the VA examination did not indicate a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a nervous disorder. The RO previously denied this claim in August 1998, finding no evidence showing a nervous disorder was incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran experienced a sexual assault during service, which resulted in PTSD. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 70 percent, as his symptoms do not reflect total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and depression. The evidence does not support a finding of a current psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from the date of receipt of his claim (October 2, 1996).

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation than 70 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant a rating of 100 percent due to lack of gross impairment in thought processes or communication abilities; 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 and place, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for organic brain disorder. The veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his military service, but the decision on this issue is mixed as it relates to the reopening of the claim.

The veteran's request for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is pending and needs to be heard by a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after this hearing.