PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates and service connection, finding that no earlier effective dates were warranted based on the evidence of record. The veteran's arthritis and diabetes mellitus are presumed to be related to his military service due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine the current severity of the veteran's PTSD with depression and right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify in-service stressors, POW status, and obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and a need for further development.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following some type of gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for PTSD prior to March 10, 1986, based on the evidence that was available at the time.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the March 2004 denial is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at a 100 percent disability rating, which renders moot his claim for TDIU.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas as required for a higher (70%) rating.

The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is likely due to a stressor event during service, and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease and post-traumatic stress disorder due to missing service medical records, lack of cooperation from the veteran in providing additional information, and the need to obtain private medical records and details regarding the PTSD stressor.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU rating, finding that his PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's PTSD warranted a disability rating of 70 percent as of October 25, 2005. The appeal was granted.

The veteran's PTSD with polysubstance abuse is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since September 6, 1996 and was increased to 70 percent effective May 5, 1999. The most recent rating decision granted a 70 percent disability rating as of February 12, 2005.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to unclear etiology of his current psychiatric disorders and potential TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for PTSD due to pre-existing conditions and no aggravation during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD does not qualify for an extension of his delimiting date for educational benefits under Chapter 30, as there is no medical evidence showing he was prevented from initiating or completing a program of education due to his PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and for a TDIU award due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. The veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, but not due to unemployability.