PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his claimed stressors are supported and a diagnosis of PTSD is established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating since March 12, 2007, based on his symptoms of irritability, depression, avoidance behavior, marked diminished interest in many activities, social isolation, and GAF score of 49. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed PTSD is related to his service in Japan, where he handled personal property of soldiers who were killed or injured. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has likely made worse his pre-existing coronary artery disease, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and PTSD, or arthritis of both knees. The claim was denied.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's PTSD, currently rated at 30 percent disabling since September 26, 2002.

The veteran is seeking service connection for headaches, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected melioidosis and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Board finds that the RO should schedule the veteran for an additional examination in order to clarify whether the veteran's headaches are a separate chronic condition or merely a symptom of PTSD, and what the relationship is, if any, between his current headaches and his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressor and determine if he has PTSD as a result of such verified stressor. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verifying specific stressor events and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, PTSD, and personality disorder with schizotypal features. The evidence did not show a current disability in any of these conditions, or that they were incurred during active duty.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluation of tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of the maximum rating authorized.,Evidence submitted since the April 2002 denial did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for Hepatitis C and Hypertension, but did raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for PTSD.,The veteran's claim for service connection for Arthritis of the right knee was denied as evidence submitted since the April 2002 denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Evidence submitted since the December 2002 Board decision related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's service medical records do not show any diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The separation examination was negative for any mental health issues. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and alcohol abuse is denied.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for the service-connected PTSD, effective from November 3, 1999.

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

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD and Diabetes Mellitus, Type II were denied by the RO. The claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of June 20, 2000.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for verification of stressors and a VA examination to determine if the veteran has PTSD related to service.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from October 19, 2001 through February 12, 2004. Effective February 13, 2004, the rating for PTSD was increased to 70 percent.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 50 percent is warranted based on symptoms including frequent mood disturbances and difficulty in social relationships.