PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no verified in-service stressor and no medical evidence linking his current PTSD to a specific event during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of corneal abrasions, heat stroke, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying whether the veteran's unit experienced enemy fire and obtaining VA treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional psychiatric examination and VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant has a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD and whether there was an in-service stressor. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and to provide a VA psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD is present and related to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and myotonia.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the April 2003 rating decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for PTSD, and thus denied the reopening of the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to December 13, 2005, and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent since December 13, 2005.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records related to his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of the veteran's PTSD.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent from July 2, 2002 to August 17, 2006. The VA has granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 7, 2001 for his TDIU award due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence, and granted service connection based on a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and there was insufficient evidence to verify his claimed stressors. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for depression (dysthymic disorder) is granted. The Board found that post-service medical evidence, including various VA treatment references to 'early onset' dysthymic disorder and a March 2003 finding by a VA treating professional indicating a link between the veteran's Vietnam experiences and his depression, combined with service medical records showing reports of nervousness and feelings of depression for some time, supports the claim.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder and depression is currently rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a 70 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9411. The claim for increased ratings for psoriasis, right foot bunionectomy, and left foot bunionectomy was denied as there is no evidence of current hammertoes.