PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board found that the appellant's claimed in-service stressors, including sexual harassment and assault, did not occur during combat or have been verified by official records. Therefore, her claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD needs further development due to insufficient evidence of a verified stressor.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD that meets the DSM-IV criteria and concluded there was insufficient corroborative evidence for the veteran's claimed in-service stressors. As such, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and PTSD. The veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for these conditions, and there is insufficient evidence linking his claimed in-service stressors or risk factors to his current disabilities.

The veteran's PTSD is characterized by total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation. The left ankle shrapnel wound with retained foreign body near the Achilles tendon is currently rated at 10 percent due to moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and a skin condition of the body have been denied due to lack of verified in-service stressors and exposure, respectively.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature of her psychiatric condition and left ear hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The veteran is currently rated at 20% for his right shoulder muscle disability, but the Board found that this was the maximum rating allowed under VA regulations. For the earlier effective date claims, the Board determined that the earliest possible effective date was October 28, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 1, 2000 for left knee disability; January 16, 2002 for tinnitus; and August 1, 2002 for PTSD. The claim for a 100 percent rating for PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for VA financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's PTSD, effective from March 25, 2003.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for tinnitus and PTSD have been denied as the decisions are final.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date determinations in various issues related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation files. The veteran's PTSD will be evaluated to determine his current severity and its impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or PTSD related to service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the claim for PTSD is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of January 14, 2000 for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with depression.

The veteran's pension claim for non-service-connected disability was denied as he does not meet the criteria of being permanently and totally disabled due to a non-service-connected condition. The claims for service connection for PTSD, dental trauma, and syncope were also denied. There is no indication of CUE in the August 1999 rating decision regarding the temporary total evaluation.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent from February 28, 2002 to April 11, 2004 and from June 1, 2004 to January 17, 2005. From March 1, 2005 onwards, the rating was increased to 30 percent.