PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and shrapnel wound, left shoulder do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not result in significant deficiencies in most areas. The current rating of 50 percent is appropriate.

The veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to corroborate his reported stressors and determine if he has PTSD based on in-service events.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as the legal criteria have not been met.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed in-service stressors could not be verified, and thus denied his claims for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including verifying stressors and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU rating, finding that his PTSD symptoms did not warrant a higher rating or that he was not unemployable solely due to his service-connected disability.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the veteran's PTSD from July 16, 2001 to November 7, 2005.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of private hospital care in December 2003 was denied as the expenses were not rendered in a medical emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The veteran's PTSD was found to be 100% disabling as of March 18, 1994, and a 100 percent evaluation has been granted effective from that date.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus his current 50 percent rating remains in effect.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, tinnitus, and a lumbar spine injury with degenerative disc disease. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of corroborated in-service stressor. For his right shoulder disability, the rating remained at 30 percent effective August 29, 2006.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and an evaluation of 10 percent for the left knee disability, finding that the appellant's PTSD was due to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service, specifically his morgue duties in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his psychiatric disorder is not related to service. The veteran's disability is considered in equipoise as to whether he is permanently disabled from a nonservice-connected condition, thus granting him entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal to establish an effective date prior to August 17, 1994, for the grant of a rating in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the appellant's failure to respond to requests for information.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to April 24, 2002 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent. From April 24, 2002 to the present, his symptoms have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.