PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case due to discrepancies in service records and a need for further development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD. The Board also found sufficient credible evidence of an in-service stressor, leading to a determination that service connection is warranted.

The veteran's PTSD was found to have caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent disability rating from November 15, 2004 through March 24, 2005. Since then, his condition has remitted but he still experiences intrusive thoughts and nightmares.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and a TDIU rating effective from May 17, 1995. The veteran appealed the effective dates, but the Board upheld these determinations.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to her military service and denied her claim.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition and PTSD, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of a VA examination and obtaining medical records. The issues include seeking an initial compensable evaluation for orchialgia of the right testicle due to epididymal cyst and service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining unit records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran currently suffers from PTSD resulting from verified experiences during active service.

The veteran requested an earlier effective date for his service-connected PTSD, but the Board found no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions and denied the claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU, finding that his PTSD symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent or meet the criteria for TDIU.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to July 15, 2003 and at 50 percent effective from that date. The diabetes mellitus rating remains at 20 percent. Peripheral neuropathy ratings for both lower extremities are also at 20 percent. Ratings for the upper extremities remain at 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and there is no evidence to support the appellant's claims of negligence or inadequate care. The cause of death was attributed to brainstem herniation due to large right cerebral stroke.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective from August 20, 2001 and denied any earlier effective date.

The veteran's PTSD with depression and substance abuse was rated at 50 percent prior to May 4, 2005. The VA granted a 100 percent rating effective from May 4, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric condition, including depression and PTSD.,Service connection was granted for degenerative and arthritic changes, lumbar spine with spinal stenosis, effective October 15, 2002; motor and sensory deficits, right lower extremity, associated with degenerative and arthritic changes, lumbar spine with spinal stenosis, effective February 25, 2004; motor and sensory deficits, left lower extremity, associated with degenerative and arthritic changes, lumbar spine with spinal stenosis, effective February 25, 2004; and sinusitis with allergies, effective October 15, 2002.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The RO has also denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his bleeding ulcers are not related to service. Therefore, the claims for both conditions were denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The effective date for the increased ratings is June 7, 2001. Additionally, the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability) remains pending.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation, effective June 10, 1999.

The veteran's PTSD results in reduced reliability and productivity, with improvements noted. The RO granted an increased rating of 50 percent for the service-connected PTSD.