PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD is related to any verified stressor or stressors.

The VA has granted a disability evaluation of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional service records and stressor information from the veteran's unit in Vietnam. The appeal will be returned for further development.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and impotency are being remanded due to the need for additional development including verification of stressors and examination.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD and scar did not cause or contribute to his death in a motor vehicle accident. The Board concluded that the primary cause of death was head injury with multiple trauma due to cardiopulmonary arrest, which occurred during the accident.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a higher disability evaluation for his PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and joint pain of the shoulders, hips, and elbows. The reasons were that there was no verified stressor for PTSD, and the veteran did not have objective signs of a chronic disability for fatigue or joint pain.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin rash, PTSD, residuals of a mid-back injury, and Hepatitis C. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling prior to January 17, 2007, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and found that the veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, granting TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and there is no credible supporting evidence to establish the claimed stressors. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, as well as a respiratory disorder, cannot be granted based on the evidence of record. The Board found no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 50% rating effective May 1, 2003. The claim for hypertension was reopened and service connection was established. A 70% rating for PTSD prior to August 13, 2004 is granted, but the request for an increased rating in excess of 70% after that date is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied due to lack of a verified stressor event in service.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as it was incurred during his active duty service in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned an initial 30 percent rating, effective September 9, 2003. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded to the RO.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the veteran's claims for PTSD and depression, including verifying stressors and obtaining VA outpatient treatment records.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of private treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including verifying in-service stressors and conducting a VA psychiatric examination.