PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The VA Board found that the veteran's PTSD does not result in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Therefore, an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's current heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied service connection for a heart disorder. The issue of PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded to allow for proper notice and development, including obtaining her complete service personnel records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient corroborative evidence to support the veteran's claim of PTSD, and her depression is found to be related to a service-connected condition (migraine headaches). The right shoulder disability is not considered service connected.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence submitted since the December 1993 denial. The claim is now pending on its merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The veteran was not diagnosed with PTSD, and there is no evidence linking his current hypertension to diabetes mellitus or any other condition in service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete notice and verification of claimed stressors. The veteran is also requested to provide additional evidence regarding his left knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD and that his symptoms did not meet all criteria required for a diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's statements establish the occurrence of combat-related stressors and linking these to his diagnosed PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the veteran's November 2005 statement, as amended by his February 2007 VA Form 9, asking for an earlier effective date is considered a freestanding claim and thus does not have legal merit.

The veteran is shown to have been unemployable as a result of PTSD for specified periods of time between January 1999 and July 2006, and the criteria for entitlement to TDIU have been met for these periods.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that it does not warrant an evaluation in excess of this amount. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain employment.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnosis of PTSD was not based on a verified, credible stressor from his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bi-polar disorder with PTSD traits or alternatively PTSD with symptoms of anxiety, is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The current rating of 30 percent reflects this level of disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD, but it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the June 1987 rating decision that denied service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by moderate occupational and social impairment with symptoms of disturbing dreams, sleep disturbance, problems with socialization, impaired short term memory, and difficulty concentrating. The Board determined that the disability warranted a rating of 30 percent prior to October 29, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma, low back disability (Gulf War Illness, painful joints), tinnitus, and hearing loss in the right ear are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and did not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating based on service-connected disabilities.