PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to December 6, 1999 for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder did not begin during service and was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder or tinnitus, and there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher initial evaluation of 50 percent is warranted.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from October 28, 2002. The RO has also assigned a temporary total rating for PTSD from April 18, 2005 through June 30, 2005 and reduced the rating to 50 percent since July 1, 2005.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional evidence submitted after the last review. The case will be reviewed again for proper consideration of the claims.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the veteran's claimed disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hip disability, trench foot residuals, hearing loss, tinnitus, and hydrocele.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and a need for further examination.

The VA has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms were characterized by occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information provided by the veteran regarding a claimed stressor event. The RO is instructed to attempt to verify this stressor and then readjudicate the claim of service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation effective February 10, 2005. The veteran's PTSD has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD were denied. The RO found that the current ratings are appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD meets the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating, based on total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, grossly inappropriate behavior, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The decision also granted entitlement to a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms such as sleep impairment, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, occasional panic attacks, and detachment. However, these symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has found that it warrants a higher rating of 50 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred or aggravated during her military service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea including as secondary to PTSD is denied.