PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the date of claim, and was increased to 70 percent effective December 21, 2006.

The Board denied the veteran's service connection claims for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, and a psychosis claimed as schizophrenic effects.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further proceedings consistent with a Joint Motion for Remand. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after additional development, including stressor verification and VA psychiatric examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD, finding no competent medical evidence linking his PTSD to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as he did not have combat experience and there is no verified stressor from service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder, finding that a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder was not established until after service and there was no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is being remanded for further development.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU and a higher disability rating for PTSD. The RO should clarify these issues and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and unverified in-service stressors. The veteran's claim for PTSD will be reconsidered after obtaining his complete service records, verifying any claimed stressors, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and PTSD diagnosis. The VA will seek additional information from the JSRRC and conduct a VA psychiatric examination if necessary.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Vocational Rehabilitation file and scheduling him for a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, finding that it was incurred in service. However, the claim for tinnitus is denied as there is insufficient evidence to support a link between his military service and his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is incurred in or aggravated by her active duty service, and she is granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for fibromyalgia remains pending as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD and hypertension, but granted a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The skin disorder claim was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that there is a need to further investigate the veteran's service connection claim for PTSD, including verifying his presence at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam and obtaining additional medical records. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for these purposes.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying the veteran's claimed stressors. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeals as to his claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is denied as the evidence does not show that the veteran's PTSD symptoms more closely approximate the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for the veteran's dysthymic disorder and PTSD, effective from October 4, 2007. The symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment due to signs and symptoms of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining evidence to corroborate a claimed in-service sexual assault and PTSD diagnosis.