PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, effective September 30, 2005.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30% from December 20, 2005 to June 18, 2007 and increased to 50% since June 19, 2007.

The veteran's death is reasonably related to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. As a result, the DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 26, 2005. Effective June 14, 2007, the rating was increased to 100 percent.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder and denied service connection for a left testicle condition. The veteran's appeal is pending before the Court, which has remanded these matters to the Board.

The VA Regional Office denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD because he did not have a current diagnosis. The case is now remanded due to missing VA mental health clinic records.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed PTSD is causally linked to a stressor event during service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there is no credible supporting evidence of his claimed stressors. As a result, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service medical records did not reflect he was diagnosed with an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, while on active duty. The Board also noted that there is no independent evidence to verify the veteran's account of any of the alleged in-service stressors regarding what purportedly occurred during active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as there is no credible evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred, and the medical evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is shown to have been productive of a degree of occupational and social impairment beyond that contemplated by a 10 percent evaluation, with symptoms including survivor guilt, isolating himself from non-veterans, bouts of temper, and easy irritability. The Board finds the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 30 percent initial evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the DSM-V criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board found no evidence of a head injury in service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for head trauma, headaches, and loss of balance.

The Board found that there is no credible supporting evidence verifying the occurrence of the veteran's claimed in-service stressor, and thus denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including an ear condition and bilateral hearing loss, have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence of record is credible to corroborate the veteran's account of his in-service stressor incident, and raises at least a reasonable doubt that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred. Coupled with the medical evidence and resolving all such doubts in the veteran's favor, as required by law, the grant of service connection for chronic depression and PTSD is warranted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder, stomach ulcer, and diabetes mellitus with peripheral artery disease and pernicious neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis of the spine, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available for this condition.