PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The veteran's PTSD and the residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right hip were both found to not warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, an enlarged heart, erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active service or any incident thereof.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA outpatient treatment records and conducting a Review Examination for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms suggest occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The claim for hearing loss was denied.

The Board has granted a higher initial evaluation of 70 percent for the veteran's PTSD, effective from March 31, 2005. Service connection for migraine headaches was also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD was adjudicated. Prior to July 8, 2005, the disability was rated at 30 percent; from July 8, 2005, it was rated at 50 percent.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the veteran's PTSD, effective from September 12, 2002. The appeal is based on the merits and not due to any presumption or reopening.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to personal trauma, reopening her previously denied claim and finding that there is new and material evidence to support her allegation of sexual harassment during service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial evaluation for PTSD greater than 50 percent.

The veteran's PTSD caused significant occupational and social impairment prior to August 1, 2004. As of August 1, 2004, the disability resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's PTSD was rated as 50 percent disabling from January 31, 2001 to May 5, 2003. The scar residuals were not found to warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD was denied, as the evidence did not show that his PTSD warranted an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus could not establish his claimed PTSD as service-connected based on a verified stressor. The VA treatment records do not provide sufficient evidence to confirm the existence of the alleged in-service stressors, and there is no current diagnosis of PTSD attributable to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, including PTSD. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was gradual progressive weakness, failure to thrive, which were attributed to cervical and lumbar myelopathy and acute myocardial infarction (MI) secondary to anemia.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic bronchitis disorder during service or for many years thereafter, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. For PTSD, the Board determined that there was insufficient credible supporting evidence to establish an in-service stressor related to combat experience.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities, blindness, or anatomical loss of hands.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a fall, laceration and broken nose.

The veteran is seeking an initial disability rating higher than 70 percent for his PTSD, which was initially granted in November 2003. The case has been remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the severity of his PTSD symptoms.