PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30% effective from August 21, 2000. The rating was increased to 50% effective from the date his claim was received (presumably August 21, 2000).

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for additional development of his treatment records from a Vet Center, as the RO failed to comply with previous instructions.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and therefore, his reported stressors were not verified. As a result, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board found that the evidence did not provide credible supporting information to verify the occurrence of the veteran's claimed PTSD-inducing stressors, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors and possibly conduct a VA examination.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board found no evidence to warrant an increase in evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for major depressive disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more at any time during the appeal period for hypertension. For the major depressive disorder claim, the Board found that while the veteran had significant psychiatric symptoms and continued to experience depression, his GAF scores were consistently within the range indicative of moderate impairment.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and L4-L5 spinal disc herniation with associated neural compression were granted effective September 26, 2001. The claim for TDIU was granted effective June 15, 2000.,Prior to these effective dates, the veteran had not filed any formal or informal claims for these benefits.

The Board granted a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD effective from August 19, 2003. The veteran's symptoms included hypervigilance, concentration difficulties, social detachment, anxiety, sleep disturbance, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and panic-like attacks.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and is now considering its merits. Additional development is required before a final decision can be made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, and determined that the earliest effective date for a combined 100% rating is June 11, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was not supported by evidence of a recognized in-service stressor and denied her claim. The issue of GERD rating remains pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus are being remanded to the RO for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a presumptive condition due to exposure to hostile fire during military service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and a need for further examination to establish service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied as his loss of vision in left eye is not due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The reimbursement claim for travel expenses was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The case will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that it was incurred in active service and linked to an in-service stressor.

The veteran was diagnosed with PTSD but there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.