PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action, including referring the veteran's case to U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) to attempt to verify his claimed stressors.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the veteran's claimed stressors and denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 17, 2006. Prior to that date, the rating was 30 percent.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD, since February 24, 2003, results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired short- and long-term memory, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his PTSD and polycythemia vera, as well as additional development of evidence. The issues include seeking an increased evaluation for PTSD and service connection for polycythemia vera secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed stressors and service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 24, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no credible evidence linking any other psychiatric disorders except PTSD to military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and verifying in-service stressors. The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and an increased rating for pes planus with traumatic arthritis of both great toes are also being reviewed.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling prior to September 6, 2002, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relationships, impulse control, and establishing and maintaining relationships.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective October 26, 2007. The Board has granted a staged rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, hepatitis B, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors. Therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence to corroborate his claimed in-service stressor of sexual assault.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's PTSD is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with a total disability evaluation is October 7, 2002. The veteran's claim was filed within one year after separation from active duty and thus the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred (October 7, 2002) is considered for award.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that his boils and cystic lesions are not related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board found that there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence has been received. The issue of whether service connection is warranted remains pending.