PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The veteran's stressor allegations regarding a helicopter crash are also under review.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU rating, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that the veteran became individually unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 24, 1997. The RO's decisions in April 1993 and November 1995 were found not to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for conjunctivitis was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating of PTSD from February 15, 1996 to November 8, 2001 is being remanded due to the failure to address VCAA notification requirements.

The Board denied the claims for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating and for CUE in the October 1969 rating decision. The claim regarding the January 1972 statement was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to new medical evidence showing moderate symptoms and impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board finds that the veteran's currently demonstrated bipolar disorder is shown as likely as not to have had its clinical onset during his period of active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss of the left ear, major depressive disorder with alcohol abuse in remission, bilateral tarsometatarsal degenerative arthrosis, left acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes (osteoarthritis), status post non-displaced tibial plateau fracture of the left knee, and arthritic changes of the cervical spine.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 8, 1999, for service connection of PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and scars of the head, arm, left hand, and stomach due to lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of in-service stressors or injuries resulting in current disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, which is related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the severity of his PTSD and a need for further examination.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for service connection of PTSD and hypertension, post-operative intracranial aneurysm. The case must be placed on remand status to provide the veteran another opportunity to provide specific information about his claimed stressors and obtain corroborating evidence from appropriate entities.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder did not start during service and is not related to any in-service stressors. The claim for reopening was denied, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of a claimed stressor event in service.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD effective August 22, 2000. The appellant's TDIU claim was also granted with an effective date of August 22, 2000.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as there is no evidence that the veteran met all eligibility criteria for PTSD on April 11, 1980.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to accrued benefits or DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to a lack of evidence showing a claim for service connection pending at the time of the veteran's death.