PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, reflecting severe occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including scheduling a hearing for the appellant and obtaining additional medical records. The veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Vascular Disease (claimed as Hypertension), and an increased evaluation of Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2. The veteran did not have combat duty or verified in-service stressors for PTSD. His hypertension was not found to be due to his diabetes mellitus, type 2, nor were there any other service-connected conditions that caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service medical records and VA treatment records. The veteran's claims are related to his diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and pancreatic cancer.

The veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 30 percent prior to June 15, 2004. From that date, the VA assigned a 70 percent evaluation for his PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for PTSD, a skin disorder, prostate disorder, and peptic ulcer disease. The veteran's claims for these conditions were decided based on the merits of the evidence presented.

The Board found that the veteran did not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disability to include any manifested by PTSD due to service. The stressors claimed were not verified, and there was no evidence of combat participation.

The veteran's PTSD has been productive of complaints including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The VA found that the disability picture most nearly approximates a 30 percent evaluation prior to January 18, 2005, but not for any portion of the rating period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or meet the criteria for these conditions.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD, maintaining a current evaluation of 50 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 50 percent is warranted. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, PTSD, migraines, and dizziness. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or show that any claimed conditions were incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration records. The veteran's claim for PTSD is being considered again as well as his secondary service connection claim for headaches.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to a verified combat stressor during his active duty in Vietnam.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 31, 2004. The appeal for a higher rating is denied. However, the veteran was granted TDIU based on her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD prior to April 15, 2004 and denied any further increase in rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's in-service stressor occurred and has been diagnosed with PTSD. A VA examination is required to determine if this diagnosis is related to the claimed stressor.