PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, finding that April 7, 1993 is the earliest allowable effective date based on when the claim was received.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 2, 2001, for a grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The representative withdrew the appeal on this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD and its connection to service. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records, verifying stressors, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's increased evaluation for his service-connected left shoulder disability and denied his claim of service connection for PTSD. The veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for his left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the veteran's claims, including obtaining verification of his Reserve service and scheduling him for an audiological and psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his tinnitus and PTSD.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to confirm the diagnosis of PTSD and its relation to in-service stressors. The veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective March 21, 2001. The RO must also determine if the veteran qualifies for a TDIU rating prior to July 21, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a higher disability rating, as it results in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine if the veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam, and thus whether he should be granted service connection for PTSD.

The veteran seeks service connection for a current psychiatric disorder, which he believes is related to his active service in Vietnam. The RO will need to verify any claimed in-service stressors and schedule the veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his current psychiatric condition is etiologically related to an in-service event.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder has been found to cause total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further action, including providing a corrective notice under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(b). The veteran is required to provide information about stressors during his service in Vietnam.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing at the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for low back strain and a retroactive effective date for service connection of PTSD. The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD with a 70% disability rating, effective March 22, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with an enemy, and thus cannot rely on the presumption of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's alleged stressor was not verified, and there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the veteran's claimed stressor event in Vietnam and a need for further medical examination.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were granted, with the PTSD rated at 10 percent initially and increased to 30 percent effective July 12, 2004. The veteran is seeking higher ratings.