PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD and that the veteran did not engage in combat, thus denying service connection for PTSD. The other issues were also denied.

The Board has determined that service connection for a gambling disorder is warranted as it is secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The evidence did not establish that any condition caused by or aggravated during service contributed to the veteran's suicide.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, due to lack of evidence supporting the diagnosis and no link between current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the effective date of service connection, which is not in excess of what was initially granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including obtaining service medical and personnel records, as well as authorization for release of additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing notice of a revised National Academy of Sciences study and explaining what evidence is needed to substantiate the claim based on service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder and conditions not yet service connected.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 7, 2000 for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that no informal claim or written intent to file a claim prior to March 7, 2000 existed.

The VA has granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of stressors and obtaining medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, right ear hearing loss, and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The veteran did not have current diagnoses of these conditions attributable to his military service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU award, finding that the most recent increase in disability occurred on April 12, 2001, and thus no earlier effective date is warranted.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by symptoms that are productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in work and family relations, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and consideration of staged ratings.

The veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% rating effective from April 17, 2007.,A 10 percent rating for the excision of cystic mass on his right palm was granted prior to May 19, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's low back disability, effective June 15, 2005. The earlier effective date claim is also granted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for hypertension and GERD secondary to PTSD were denied by the RO.

The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service grenade explosion, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, will be addressed at the hearing.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation, effective April 3, 2001.