PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% from February 25, 2000 to August 1, 2002 and at 100% since then. The left wrist disability was rated at 20% since January 22, 2001.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an examination by a psychiatrist to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to undeliverable correspondence and an unclear current address.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to October 30, 2007. After a remand and additional development, the RO awarded a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective from January 9, 2007.

The Board has granted a higher disability rating of 100 percent for the veteran's PTSD, effective February 27, 2004. The decision is based on total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD.

The Board's decision of April 4, 2008 is being vacated due to the submission of new evidence prior to the issuance of the decision. The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and residuals of otitis and mastoiditis of the left ear will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to a verified traumatic event experienced during his active military service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was not addressed due to the stay imposed by VA on claims based on herbicide exposure.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective July 2, 2002. The earlier effective date claim is also granted.

The veteran claims service connection for PTSD, but the case is remanded due to lack of corroborating evidence and missing records.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination regarding service connection claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying stressor events.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability of the cervical spine, bilateral shoulders, bilateral hips, right ankle, low back, or bilateral knees due to service. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and denied service connection for this condition. The claimant was also not granted special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance.

The veteran's PTSD and associated Bipolar Disorder are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for these conditions. The evidence does not show that his symptoms warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, finding that new evidence submitted since the last denial is not material. The issue of an increased rating for right ear hearing loss has been remanded.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective August 3, 2000. The claim for an earlier effective date to the date of his initial claim has been granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran did not timely perfect his appeal with respect to the June 2002 RO denial of an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100% rating for service-connected PTSD, and thus dismissed the claim without prejudice.