PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board granted increased ratings for the service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the neck and PTSD, with the former rated at 40 percent and the latter at 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the service connection of PTSD, hysterectomy residuals, and lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 have all been denied. The RO has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the lumbar condition as of January 17, 2003.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from November 14, 1996 to June 30, 2002 and increased to 50 percent from July 1, 2002 to January 31, 2004. The rating for PTSD was then increased to 70 percent as of February 1, 2004. For the left knee disability, a 10 percent evaluation has been maintained since July 9, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a bilateral knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have post-traumatic stress disorder related to service and denied his claim.

The Board has found that the appellant's claimed stressors are reasonably supported by evidence, and a VA psychiatric examination is needed to determine if any of these stressors are sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD. The claim for service connection will be granted based on the direct link between the verified in-service stressor(s) and the veteran's symptoms.

The veteran's PTSD was not incurred or aggravated in service, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his current diagnosis to any incident of military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and whether a document received by facsimile on August 10, 2002, was a valid notice of disagreement to the July 23, 2002, rating decision. The effective date issue is not addressed as it pertains to an earlier effective date for a TDIU.

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

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and social phobia) is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his active military service and grants the claim.

The Board denied service connection for cholera, PTB, and PTSD. The right knee scar was also denied a compensable evaluation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and finds that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service in Vietnam. The decision grants service connection for PTSD.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, but the claim has been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further verification of a claimed stressor.

The Board has determined that separate disability ratings for PTSD and OBS are not warranted, as the symptoms of both conditions are rated together under a single diagnostic code.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD was denied as his PTSD did not meet the criteria for such a rating prior to April 29, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that his PTSD had been manifested by more than definite impairment prior to April 24, 1995.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and thus denied his claim for an increased disability evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disorder, bronchitis, pleurisy/chest pains, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that these conditions were not related to the veteran's active service.