PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for substance abuse, a partial colon removal, PTSD, major depressive disorder, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear service status and need for verification of in-service stressors. The veteran's claim for PTSD will be reconsidered after these issues are resolved.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, Hepatitis C, and a back disability due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the occurrence of claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia remains pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The case will be re-adjudicated after the requested actions are completed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD has been received, and thus the claim is reopened.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent evaluation, representing total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD, including consideration of the impact of his wife's unexpected death on his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service stressor, which he claims was sexual assault. The evidence supports this finding and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent from October 21, 1998 to June 10, 2003. Since then, the rating has been increased to 70 percent effective June 11, 2003.

The VA has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's PTSD since June 24, 1996, based on considerable social and industrial impairment.

The Board denied all claims except for an increased rating for PTSD and a retroactive effective date for service connection.

The veteran's claimed stressor of a rocket and mortar attack in Vietnam has been verified, allowing for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals due to additional medical evidence submitted after a previous decision. The case is now back with the RO for further development, including obtaining Vet Center records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board granted an increased rating of 50 percent for the veteran's PTSD, but denied entitlement to a higher initial rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss was denied. The VA examiner found no current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) at the RO.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD, which more closely approximates the criteria for such a rating based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available. Service connection for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was denied.