PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the veteran's service medical and personnel records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 17, 1977 for the award of service connection for PTSD based on new and material evidence received after a previous denial in 1978.

The veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, reflecting moderate impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The veteran's PTSD was granted effective from November 7, 2002, the date of his initial claim. He is currently receiving a 70% disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying reported stressors. The veteran's PTSD is being evaluated based on a de novo review of his claim.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from September 30, 2002 to June 7, 2005. The symptoms include occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and his DDD at L4-L5 and L5-S1 is rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD and PTB, but denied both conditions as service connection.,Malnutrition was also denied as a service-connected condition.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective February 11, 2005. The rating was later increased to 70 percent due to a temporary total convalescence period from June 27, 2005 through August 31, 2005.

The veteran's death was not considered service-connected under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 because he did not have a 100% disability rating for at least 10 years prior to his death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a back disorder, dental problems, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The medical evidence does not support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as he did not demonstrate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board found no evidence of shrapnel wounds to the veteran's lower extremities related to service and denied service connection for these conditions. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to a stressor related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA outpatient treatment records. The issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation greater than 30 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to June 14, 2004 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The earliest possible effective date is June 14, 2004.

The VA denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that the veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD. This renders moot his claim for TDIU as he now meets the criteria for a 100 percent disability evaluation.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective February 27, 2007. This decision resolved an issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for gout and skin rash as a result of exposure to herbicides. The skin rash claim is remanded due to the lack of evidence regarding its etiology.