PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms, as reflected in his VA examinations, most nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency but do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD from March 29, 2001 through August 2, 2005 and a higher rating of 100 percent beginning August 3, 2005.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and medical opinions to determine the validity of his claims.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent from April 15, 1999 to May 23, 2005 and later increased to 70 percent on or after May 24, 2005. The appeal is denied as the current ratings do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied as the most recent claim for service connection was received on August 14, 1992.

The Board finds that the veteran's service medical records corroborate his reported stressors related to hospitalization for meningitis and appendectomy, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD. The Board grants service connection for PTSD as it is found to be directly related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguities in the record regarding the existence and etiology of PTSD. The veteran needs to be examined by a psychologist and a psychiatrist to determine if he suffers from PTSD, its etiology, and whether it is related to service.

The veteran's anxiety disorder and PTSD are found to be secondary to his service-connected eczematous dermatitis. The veteran does not have a diagnosed chronic intestinal disorder or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but the evidence supports that his tinea pedis is related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is a result of in-service events, including being held at knifepoint during an attempted sexual assault and confinement in the gas chamber without a gas mask. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence. However, it was determined that the veteran's PTSD is not related to his military service and denied both the reopening of the PTSD claim and the original claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing notice regarding PTSD and stressor events in service, arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD is present based on an event in service, and readjudicating the claim.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and dysthymic disorder, as secondary to tinnitus. The veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions, and the VA evaluations did not support their presence.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 5, 2002. The VA determined that his condition results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for VCAA notification and additional development of evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor which could support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's combined disability evaluations were denied as they did not exceed the assigned ratings of 60 percent and 80 percent from November 27, 2000 and March 2, 2004 respectively.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but there are concerns about its current severity.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and a skin condition. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information regarding verified stressors.