PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The claim for total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and thus no new or material evidence was received to reopen the claim for PTSD.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have PTSD that is service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia, finding that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is more likely than not related to her period of active service. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition resulting from military sexual assault.

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 personal assault stressors occurred.

The VA granted an increased rating for service-connected PTSD to 70 percent, effective February 5, 2001.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus. The RO must verify any in-service stressors claimed by the veteran, conduct further unit research if possible, obtain VA examination reports addressing the nature and likely etiology of the claimed conditions, and ensure all relevant records are associated with the claims file.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of PTSD severity and failure to obtain all relevant records, including VA counseling records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The veteran is required to provide any additional information or evidence in his possession.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, and erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have a current disability of hepatitis C related to his military service, and there is no evidence linking his PTSD or erectile dysfunction directly to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD results in nearly total occupational and social impairment, leading to a 100 percent rating since the effective date of service connection.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is manifested by symptoms such as sleep disturbance, flashbacks, persistent anger and irritability, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, near-continuous depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately, and effectively, suicidal ideation, and impaired impulse control. The Board finds that his disability picture most nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been presented. The veteran's claim is now ready to be reviewed on its merits.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination and additional development.

The veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 30 percent prior to February 1, 2004. Since then, his rating has been increased to 50 percent effective from February 1, 2004.

The Board has determined that the June 1987 rating decision granting service connection for PTSD and assigning a 10 percent evaluation, effective October 15, 1986, is not CUE. The RO applied the correct criteria at the time of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed in-service stressor event, which he alleges was sexual assault by a third class petty officer, is not credible. As such, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The evidence supports a finding that the veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by sleep difficulty, irritability, hypervigilance, anxiety, depression, passive suicidal ideation, and social problems resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has determined that the schedular criteria for an initial 50 percent rating are met.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as a TDIU rating, were all denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.