PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a combat-related stressor for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The veteran's service record does not confirm his participation in combat, and further verification is needed.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent since June 17, 2003. The effective date for TDIU has been set at September 8, 1999.

The veteran's PTSD with dysthymia is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has now granted a higher initial rating to 50 percent.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The veteran's appeal for an initial increased disability rating for service-connected PTSD has been dismissed as the veteran withdrew his appeal.

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the disability is manifested by severe occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, skin rash (claimed as affecting the hands and neck), rheumatoid arthritis (claimed as arthritis of the hands), and tinnitus due to lack of verified in-service stressors for PTSD, absence of medical evidence linking these conditions to service, and passage of time since discharge.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran was exposed to a stressor in service and granted his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the evidence did not support reducing the veteran's PTSD rating from 70 to 50 percent, and reinstated the prior 70 percent rating for PTSD effective November 1, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective from December 31, 2003.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has remanded the case for a travel Board hearing at the local RO.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The VA found that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD effective October 23, 2004. The veteran's symptoms have resulted in deficiencies in most areas of work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by short-term memory deficit, impaired impulse control with explosive outbursts, and near-continuous mood and behavior problems that affect his ability to function appropriately. However, the symptoms do not result in occupational and social impairment due to deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent from July 29, 2003 to September 28, 2005.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied because the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency and there were no other qualifying circumstances.