PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent evaluation effective March 26, 1998. The veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent disabling due to total occupational and social impairment, including gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time and place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying the veteran's alleged stressors and obtaining relevant records from his unit.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 100% evaluation for PTSD is August 3, 2004. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied as his entitlement to this benefit arose on August 3, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify two reported in-service stressors and obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether PTSD is related to these events.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his disability is severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of verified in-service stressors. The claim for secondary service connection for coronary artery disease secondary to diabetes mellitus is also denied as the VA examiner could not directly relate the coronary artery disease to the diabetes without resorting to speculation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injury of the feet was denied, and his PTSD evaluation was also denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking current foot disability to military service.

The Board denied the appellant's request for apportionment of the veteran's VA compensation benefits, finding that it would create undue hardship on the veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service traumatic events.

The veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms such as flashbacks, sleep disturbances, nightmares, depression, hypervigilance, startle response, short term memory problems, occasional thoughts of suicide, anger problems, difficulty with social interactions, and a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score of 45. The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD warrants an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD requires additional development due to a need for another VA examination.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a compensable rating of his service-connected psychiatric disability. The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is January 25, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus. The claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and PTSD. The RO is instructed to verify the veteran's service stressors, obtain additional data from various sources, and schedule a VA examination if one or more verified stressors are found.

The veteran's PTSD was granted based on his reported in-service stressors.,PTSD was granted, and the initial ratings for sinusitis were also granted. The right ankle sprain with reconstruction surgery and degenerative joint disease had different initial rating periods determined by date of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need to verify one of the veteran's claimed stressors related to his service in Vietnam.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 10, 2005 for service connection of PTSD and tinnitus were denied.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for residuals of a tympanic membrane rupture was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for low back disability was also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran does not currently have PTSD related to service and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.