PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and for PTSD due to additional development being necessary.

The veteran's PTSD was found to not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent prior to December 24, 2003 and did not meet the criteria for a staged evaluation in excess of 70 percent from December 24, 2003 through April 4, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying stressors and obtaining SSA records. The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD will be readjudicated after these actions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily personal needs or protect himself from the hazards and dangers of daily living without regular aid and attendance, nor does he meet the criteria for being permanently housebound.

The Board found no credible evidence of in-service stressors and denied the claim for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD was initially evaluated at 30 percent and increased to 70 percent effective September 13, 2005. The evaluation is granted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The VA has not found any current residuals or active disease related to the conditions he is claiming.

The veteran's claim for accrued benefits was denied as the claim had not been pending at the time of his death. The cause of death was alcohol-related, and service connection for the cause of death could not be established due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between the veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have a disability manifested by PTSD due to an innocently acquired disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing at the RO and further development.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of PTSD as a result of service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating than the current 30 percent assigned, based on the evidence showing no significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The veteran's claim for service connection for endometriosis and an increased rating for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the acquisition of relevant medical records.

The veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf War, specifically witnessing the 'highway of death,' and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to a disability rating of 70 percent for his post-traumatic stress disorder with depression, as his symptoms meet the criteria for such an increased evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and PTSD, finding that new evidence was submitted to reopen her PTSD claim but concluding that there is no credible corroboration of the alleged stressors. The Board also found that her depression was not caused by her active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence to corroborate his reported in-service stressors, and thus, the diagnosis of PTSD was not established based on verified service events.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to questions about the existence and nature of the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA will obtain daily logs from Officer Candidate School and arrange for a psychological evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD in September 2002. The veteran requested to reopen her claim on November 26, 2002, but no informal claim was filed after this date and before November 26, 2002. Therefore, an effective date earlier than November 26, 2002, for a grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.