PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of PTSD should be September 8, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it was incurred during his period of active duty.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is currently manifested by depression, intrusive thoughts, irritability, sleep disturbances, anhedonia, and isolating behavior. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for a 50 percent evaluation, but no more, for PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to assess the impact of his PTSD on his employability.

The veteran's PTSD results in significant impairment, including difficulty with work and social relationships. The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from November 2003. The criteria for a higher rating (100%) are not met.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there was no credible evidence to support that a stressor occurred during his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of PTSD. The veteran's combat experience as a medic in Vietnam is considered sufficient to establish his diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records and additional VA examination.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have any service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD based on new and material evidence, but further development is needed to determine if the stressor occurred in-service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence not previously considered by the RO, and the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent rating throughout the period of this claim, indicating total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of recent medical evidence and for further psychiatric examination.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial evaluation period, and a higher rating of 100 percent is granted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was incurred in active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his active military service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that the veteran contracted hepatitis C during his time in Vietnam.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 12, 2001 for the veteran's PTSD rating and TDIU. The case is being remanded to schedule a personal hearing before RO personnel.

The Board has established February 11, 1998 as the effective date for TDIU based on the veteran's informal claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD. The earliest possible date when it is factually ascertainable from the evidence that entitlement to TDIU arose was February 11, 1998.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol dependency and determined that the veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.