PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of verified in-service stressors and failure to meet all criteria for establishing service connection.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that an initial rating in excess of this amount is not warranted.

The Board has found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine arthritis is rated at 40 percent, and his ano-rectal fistula is rated at 10 percent. The other issues are resolved in the veteran's favor.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD due to lack of verification of service stressors, need for additional medical examination, and review of the claims file.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is manifested by severe symptoms such as hypervigilance, anxiety/panic attacks, flashbacks, and difficulties in maintaining close relationships. The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the disability from September 6, 2001 to October 17, 2004 and from January 1, 2005.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for numbness of the extremities, PTSD with depression, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The appeal regarding these issues is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination to determine if service connection is warranted for PTSD, depression, and alcoholism.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, finding that prior to October 16, 1999, the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and dysthymic disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the PTSD claim and that the dysthymic disorder is not related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for a PTSD examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected PTSD is manifested by symptoms suggestive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, as there were no verified stressors and the diagnosis of PTSD did not meet the criteria for a valid DSM-IV diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease are denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in March 1994, and she did not file a notice of disagreement. The RO reopened her claim on March 30, 2003, and granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of March 30, 1998.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), were denied. The veteran was previously diagnosed with PTSD but the claim is considered new and material due to additional evidence.

The veteran seeks a higher evaluation for PTSD, which was initially granted with a 30 percent rating from October 15, 2001 to June 24, 2002. The RO also assigned a temporary total rating during this period. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development of records and a psychiatric examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, and his TDIU claim was also denied due to insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining complete personnel files and verifying if the veteran served as a sniper in service. The claim will be reviewed again after this additional information is obtained.