PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran died of cardiac arrest with underlying causes including coronary artery disease. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of death, arguing that her husband's PTSD aggravated his coronary artery disease.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the neck and post-traumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD effective November 20, 2002. The veteran's claim was reopened in 2004 based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of a current PTSD diagnosis that conforms to the requirements of DSM-IV. Therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Board has vacated its February 2008 decision denying service connection for PTSD due to the submission of additional evidence that was not previously considered. The case is now remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. The appeals were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service, but there was no evidence of such exposure. Service connection could not be established as the conditions did not manifest in service or within a presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD, including a lack of verification of his alleged stressor. The VA is instructed to attempt to verify the stressor and obtain any relevant medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left median nerve laceration and denied his claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability claimed as depression with PTSD. The veteran's left median nerve laceration is currently rated at 20 percent, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD, the maximum schedular rating available. Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected PTSD is also granted.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits information.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 18, 2004 for his service connection for PTSD. The decision states that the earliest possible effective date is based on when he was first diagnosed with PTSD in February 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or tachycardia that is related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 9411. His prostatitis remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure compliance with VCAA and to obtain pertinent medical records.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, but the Board finds that his military occupational specialty was a cook and not combat-related. Further development is needed to verify stressors and determine if they occurred during service.

The veteran's service connection claims for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and PTSD have been granted. The veteran is currently receiving a 30 percent evaluation for his PTSD, effective July 28, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD, service connection for a left knee disability, service connection for a head and neck injury, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.