PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD is primarily manifested by reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board found no credible evidence of in-service stressors and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for PTSD and a skin disorder due to new and material evidence. However, it remains unclear whether he has PTSD as a result of service or if he has a skin condition. The right and left knee disabilities are rated at 30 percent each.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining updated medical records and providing the veteran with VCAA notice regarding increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, including verifying combat exposure and stressors leading to PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cold injuries and hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD due to lack of a verified inservice stressor.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by difficulty in establishing and maintaining social and work relationships, sleep disturbances, anxiousness, and irritability. The disability rating for service-connected PTSD is now set at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's PTSD is related to his service, specifically combat involvement in Vietnam.

The veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected PTSD, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death before a decision could be made.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a disability rating. The veteran's claim is now resolved.

The Board found that an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for PTSD is not warranted, as the increase in disability was ascertainable from August 14, 1998.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including post-traumatic stress disorder, a heart disorder, and hypertension. The veteran's claims were reopened on new evidence but the conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for substance abuse as secondary to his PTSD with a history of schizophrenic reaction, a temporary total rating based on hospitalization from August 3, 1998, to August 31, 1998, and entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected psychiatric disability. The veteran's substance abuse was not found to be caused or worsened by his PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) based on a verified non-combat stressor. Service connection was denied for Hepatitis C and Herpes Simplex Virus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed in-service stressors cannot be verified, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at a maximum of 100 percent, effective from March 29, 2002. His claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is moot as he has already been granted the highest possible schedular rating.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from July 29, 1999 to August 28, 2002. From August 28, 2002 to March 16, 2004, the rating increased to 50 percent.