PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD can be related to service. The secondary hypertension claim will also be addressed.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD, but the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of an in-service stressor related to combat. As such, service connection is denied.

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective from August 24, 2000. The RO also granted a separate 10 percent disability evaluation for right sciatic neuropathy, effective from the same date.

The veteran did not apply for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) during the applicable two-year period due to his mental incompetence from a service-connected disability. The appellant is therefore ineligible for RH insurance.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) as a result of his service, and denies the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current credible evidence of PTSD and does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military service. The claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify any claimed stressors that may have led to the veteran's PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his in-service grenade accident. The claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to PTSD and denied entitlement to burial benefits based on service-connected death. The Board found that the service-connected PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that no formal or informal claim was filed prior to February 4, 2000.

The veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected PTSD, and the Board finds that DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing the veteran currently has a skin condition or PTSD. The claim for service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD and TDIU should be set at December 2, 2002, as this is when the disability increased in severity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran engaged in combat or experienced stressors related to his military service, nor was there sufficient evidence to corroborate any claimed stressors.

The Board found that the veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to corroborate his claim of in-service sexual assault, and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 6, 2002, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The VA has already granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10 percent rating based on evidence from a September 2003 VA compensation examination. The case is being remanded to the RO for a new evaluation of PTSD.

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

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and the veteran's active duty service.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted effective December 20, 1999. The RO denied the earlier effective date in June 1987 due to lack of specific stressors, but acknowledged receipt of evidence corroborating his reported stressor from a Managua earthquake.