PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 2000 for a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD, finding that his PTSD did not meet the criteria for such a rating prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records and need for a VA medical opinion regarding PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating, effective March 24, 2000. The Board finds that the symptoms approximate the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation due to deficiencies in work and social areas.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service and granted service connection. The back disability was not found to be directly related to service, but a current diagnosis of L4-5 degenerative disc disease was established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD and schizophrenia are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed in-service stressors do not involve combat and require corroboration. The evidence of record does not corroborate his claimed in-service stressors, thus the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of corroborating evidence and insufficient supporting medical evidence. The issue regarding muscle and nerve damage, claimed as due to exposure to Agent Orange, was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to January 23, 1995, for a 100 percent evaluation for service-connected PTSD is denied.

The veteran's appeal includes claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for PTSD, and secondary service connection for various conditions. The case is being remanded to provide the necessary information and evidence for these claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence submitted since the July 2002 denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. However, there is no credible verification of the alleged stressors in service, and therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be established.

The veteran's disability has remained the same throughout the appeal period, and the Board finds that a 100 percent evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder should have been granted from September 8, 2001.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete evidence and need for further development, including obtaining service personnel records, VA treatment records, and verifying stressors. The veteran is also advised that he may be provided with a supplemental statement of the case if his claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran currently has PTSD and whether it is related to service.

The veteran's low back pain and right lumbosacral radiculopathy were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may a neurological disorder manifested by right lumbosacral radiculopathy be presumed to have been incurred therein. PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him individually unemployable.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity are being remanded for additional development.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is established as service-connected due to noise exposure during combat. However, there is no evidence of PTSD and the right shoulder scar does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran seeks an effective date earlier than June 19, 2002 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Board finds that no such effective date can be granted as the claim was not appealed within one year from the final denial in February 1999.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, but his major depression disorder claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and PTSD. The claim for service connection for atrophy of the right testicle, right hand disorder, and benign masses was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received. Additionally, the veteran's duodenal ulcer disease with hiatal hernia, bilateral tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were all found to be without legal basis for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and granted a 30 percent rating for post-operative residuals of a total right knee replacement, but the veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence.