PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further verification of the veteran's claimed stressors and for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD is present.

The veteran's stress fracture of the left heel with tendonitis has been rated at 10 percent since May 1988. The Board found that her symptoms have more closely approximated a moderate foot injury, warranting this rating. Service connection for PTSD remains pending as there is insufficient evidence to establish the claimed in-service personal assault stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA psychiatric examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to corroborate the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and provide a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no credible supporting evidence that a claimed in-service stressor occurred, which is essential to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants an initial rating of 70 percent, effective January 31, 2005.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to October 22, 2007 and has been increased to 50 percent effective October 22, 2007. The lumbar spine condition remains at a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary to verify the veteran's claimed stressors and assess whether his PTSD is related to service. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as a matter of law because it was not filed within one year after the initial rating decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, finding no clinical diagnosis of PTSD and attributing the current hearing loss to civilian occupational noise exposure.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under section 1318 due to his total disability rating being less than 10 years prior to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, which he claims is a result of several stressful experiences during military service aboard the USS HOEL. The case has been remanded to determine if the alleged stressors occurred and to provide a VA examination to assess whether the current psychiatric symptoms are related to these events.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's PTSD diagnosis and treatment. The veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he suffers from PTSD as a result of combat-related events.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to December 20, 2000 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is not warranted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for VCAA compliance and additional development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination for hemorrhoids and issuance of a statement of the case regarding PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD and hepatitis C are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and to determine if the veteran meets the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.