PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's claimed stressors and obtain his treatment records from 1970 to 1973. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection and rated at 50 percent effective December 28, 2004. The TMJ issue remains unresolved.

The VA has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, which is currently rated at 50 percent. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and PVD, as well as his claim for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or link to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the veteran's in-service personal assault and obtaining her service medical records. The veteran is also to be provided a VA examination to determine if her current PTSD diagnosis is related to an in-service stressor.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent effective from December 7, 1998 to December 20, 2004. The rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent effective from December 21, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his psychiatric condition did not render him unemployable.

The veteran's PTSD was found to be less severe prior to August 22, 2002 and more severe commencing from that date. The claim for increased evaluations is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right hand disorder, specifically neurologic impairment, was incurred in service. The claims for an ear disorder (including tinnitus) and PTSD are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and a dental disorder for compensation purposes only, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service stressor or corroborated exposure to trauma. The claim for initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to new symptoms reported by the veteran.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent, and the RO has now granted a higher rating of 50 percent effective from January 16, 1997. The skin disorder claim is denied as secondary to herbicide exposure, but no new evidence has been received to reopen the low back disorder claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no longer an issue of fact or law before it regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied service connection for skin rash, cardiovascular disability (including hypertension, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure), and PTSD. The veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions were not linked to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disorder and PTSD, both of which were presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange. The RO found that there was no credible evidence supporting the veteran's claimed in-service stressors for PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a seizure disorder, and spondylolisthesis, L4-5. The evidence received since the April 1999 rating decision includes VA treatment records, a transcript of a hearing before the undersigned in January 2005, and information about the veteran's recent treatment at a VA clinic in Monroe, Louisiana.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are being REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration if appropriate.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims folder, including obtaining medical records from his private psychiatrist and family physician. The case will be reviewed de novo to determine if a higher evaluation can be granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his chronic hypertension and PTSD.