PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for chronic PTSD and found that the veteran's current bronchial asthma is rated at 10 percent. The veteran was not granted an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his bronchial asthma.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus disorder and an increased rating for PTSD due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible evidence supporting his claimed in-service sexual assault stressor.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors. The veteran's MOS as clerk was not engaged in during his time in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as there is no communication from the veteran or his representative during the period that could be interpreted as a claim to reopen.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and allergies due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his current low back disability.

The veteran's claim for PTSD and cause of death benefits is being remanded due to incomplete records, including the missing service personnel file. The VA will also provide notice on how to substantiate DIC claims based on service connection for cause of death.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD in service and denied the veteran's claim for this condition. The skin disability was also denied as there is no chronic skin disability present in service, not otherwise related to the veteran's period of active duty including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to his experiences in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed stressors, which include near drowning and an amphibious landing training incident, have not been verified. As a result, service connection for PTSD cannot be established.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to corroborate the veteran's reported stressors and to provide a VA psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD is related to service. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, tinnitus, respiratory issues, erectile dysfunction, and PTSD. The reasons were that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the available records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities and obtain any outstanding medical records.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective January 26, 2006.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher 70 percent rating, as his symptoms do not include suicidal or homicidal ideation, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities, near continuous panic attacks, or illogical speech. The current 50 percent rating adequately reflects the veteran's disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as he has a diagnosed condition and the stressors are supported by credible evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence corroborating her claimed in-service stressor.