PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU prior to July 23, 2004. The evidence did not support higher ratings for PTSD or a finding of unemployability due solely to service-connected disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the occurrence of the claimed stressors, thus denying service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 19, 1994 for the award of service connection for PTSD due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between her in-service rape and any diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any other psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and insufficient medical evidence linking current diagnoses to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for special evidentiary development procedures for PTSD claims based on personal assault. The veteran is required to provide evidence from sources other than her service records, or evidence of behavioral changes that may corroborate her account of the stressful incident.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying stressors and arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's PTSD is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no verified in-service stressor and the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's claim for additional compensation for his dependent child, D., based on school attendance during the period from September 1998 to January 2000 was denied as no formal or informal claim was filed within one year of the time period.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or higher disability ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, COPD, and hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors. The veteran is also to be examined by a VA psychiatrist to determine if PTSD was incurred during service and whether any current psychiatric disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service. A VA examination is also needed to determine if porphyria cutanea tarda and peripheral neuropathy are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran has PTSD due to an in-service sexual assault, which was corroborated by credible evidence. The claim for service connection is granted.

The RO denied service connection for PTSD in April 2003. The case is now remanded to the RO via the AMC for scheduling a hearing.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for PTSD and did not grant a TDIU based on the service-connected PTSD. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 2002.

The veteran's retroactive benefits for PTSD are denied as the applicable law does not allow for retroactive application of a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal for additional retroactive compensation based on the award of a total disability evaluation for PTSD is denied as the law does not provide such benefit.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD, effective September 2, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to in-service combat stressors and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran engaged in combat and was exposed to a stressor event(s) that could lead to PTSD.