PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to her experiences in service, including sexual assault and harassment by a dentist and foreign soldiers. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's in-service stressors for PTSD and determine if service connection can be established.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an increased rating for PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of current right ear hearing loss or entitlement to an increased disability rating for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD was initially granted with a 30 percent evaluation, effective January 2, 2004. In April 2008, the RO increased his rating to 70 percent, effective January 18, 2007.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD. The veteran was seen by a psychiatrist during his second period of service and hospitalized for psychiatric reasons shortly after discharge from the Coast Guard in early 1978. Additional development is needed to obtain these records.

The veteran's PTSD causes reduced reliability and productivity, but does not cause total occupational and social impairment. The VA assigned a 50 percent rating for PTSD.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's alleged in-service stressors could not be verified and thus, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing to be scheduled by the RO.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at the highest possible disability rating of 100 percent, which meets the schedular requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has ordered a remand for the veteran's claims due to missing service treatment records from October 1973 to September 1977. The case will be returned to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The Board found insufficient evidence of in-service stressors for PTSD and no credible supporting evidence that the veteran's current conditions are related to service. The diagnoses of hypertension and cardiac disorder with stents were also not supported by sufficient evidence.

The Board found that none of the service-connected conditions contributed to the veteran's cause of death, which was due to complications following mitral valve replacement surgery.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU from January 1, 1987 to July 10, 1992 was granted.,Service connection for PTSD was established with a 50% disability rating effective January 6, 1987.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor and thus no causal link to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the medical evidence.