PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that there is no credible supporting evidence to corroborate the veteran's report of an in-service stressor, and therefore service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to his military service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there is no diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU or DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, as he was never rated at 60% disability combined and had no continuous total rating prior to death.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent disability rating effective February 17, 2006. The previous ratings were 30 percent prior to that date and 50 percent from January 27, 2003, to August 9, 2005.

The Board has ordered the case remanded for additional development, including clarification of diagnoses and verification of a stressor event. The veteran must be provided proper VCAA notice and scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he has PTSD related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of claimed stressors and obtaining VA mental health clinic treatment records. The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder will be reconsidered after these steps.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service stressors that are verified.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective November 16, 2001. The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD causes significant impairment in most areas such as work and social relationships.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD, including a new VA examination to assess the severity and impact on employment.

The veteran's PTSD was initially granted and rated at 30 percent. After a review of his condition, the VA determined that he should be assigned a higher rating of 50 percent effective from November 18, 2005.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to and from January 30, 2003 resulted in significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a right shoulder disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for degenerative disc and joint disease at L4-5 was granted with an initial rating of 40 percent but not more due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or other disabling conditions.

The veteran's service in Vietnam is recognized, and he meets the criteria for PTSD based on his combat experience. Therefore, the Board grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional information and evidence regarding the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected schizoaffective disorder, depressed type. The AOJ will attempt to verify the veteran's claimed stressors and schedule him for a VA examination.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a psychiatric examination.

The veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to combat exposure in Vietnam. His heart disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus is not service-connected, and the initial evaluation for his Type II diabetes mellitus with retinopathy and nephropathy is granted at 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of award for service connection for PTSD, finding that no formal or informal claim was filed prior to July 2, 2002.