PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence to establish PTSD, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The issue of hepatitis C remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a 50 percent rating based on his symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity at work, flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, and impaired judgment when angry.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD, which was previously granted service connection for in April 2005, warrants a disability rating of 50 percent.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 70 percent rating is warranted based on significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are not service-connected but have been caused by negligence on the part of VA caregivers during surgical treatment for his nonservice-connected facial palsy. The veteran is granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is currently manifested and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no pending claim prior to January 1997, and the earliest possible effective date is January 16, 1997.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and found no evidence of a causal link between his current symptoms and service. The Board agreed with this determination.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and CUE in rating decisions were denied. The Board found that the correct facts as known at the time of the September 1974 and September 5, 1975 rating decisions were before the adjudicators and that these decisions correctly applied the statutory and regulatory provisions extant at the time.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, providing the veteran with VCAA notice, and affording him a VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his PTSD, finding that it only causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including verification of stressors and VA examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for Chapter 31, Independent Living Services as it is not necessary to assist him function more independently in his family or community.

The veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder have been evaluated at a 30 percent rating since June 15, 2002. The symptoms described do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

For the period from March 29, 2002 to February 17, 2005, the veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For the period commencing on February 18, 2005, his PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in employment, social and family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records, providing VCAA notice, and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia and an increased rating for residuals of a right ankle injury with osteochondritis. The claim for PTSD was denied, as there is no evidence to support its diagnosis.