PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including verification of stressor events and obtaining treatment records. The issues on appeal are service connection for PTSD and non-service connected pension benefits.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective March 21, 2007.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30% prior to September 30, 1996 and increased to 50% from that date until May 13, 2003. After May 13, 2003, the claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities. The initial ratings assigned were found to be appropriate.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also found that he is not unemployable solely due to his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was not manifested by suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities, speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively, impaired impulse control with periods of violence, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, nor the inability to establish and maintain effective relationships prior to May 16, 2006. Therefore, a rating in excess of 50 percent is not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claims for service connection. The evaluations for diabetic neuropathy were also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim was denied.

The veteran seeks an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and schedule the veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's appeal is for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The RO established service connection with a 70% evaluation effective from April 22, 2002. The veteran contends that the current rating does not reflect his disability level and requests additional development.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and GERD are not at issue. The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for these conditions. Service connection for a low back disorder, skin disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, respiratory disorder, and fevers were all denied as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible evidence corroborating her claimed in-service personal assault stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for cluster headaches and denied the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The veteran's cluster headaches are found to have originated during his period of active service, while his PTSD is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, effective from when his current evaluation was last increased to 50 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a 100% disability evaluation for PTSD, finding that the earliest date after the May 1991 decision was January 19, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected as a result of his combat-related experiences during World War II.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since June 21, 2004. The VA examiner noted that the veteran had not worked for three years due to difficulty getting along with his coworkers.

The Board has determined that the veteran's premature ejaculation does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as there is no evidence of penile deformity. The issue regarding PTSD remains pending and will be remanded.