PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board finds that there is no credible supporting evidence that the veteran's alleged in-service personal assault actually occurred, and thus cannot establish service connection for PTSD based on a secondary basis to his service-connected residuals of right hand injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA psychiatric examination and verification of claimed stressors. The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 17, 2003 for the grant of a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from a Reidsville, North Carolina doctor.

The veteran's PTSD was found to warrant a 70 percent evaluation prior to August 8, 2007, due to significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from sepsis, due to subarachnoid hemorrhage and cardiovascular disease.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent for the entire appeal period, and his symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there is no evidence that he engaged in combat with the enemy and his claimed stressors have not been verified. The veteran was an ammunition specialist, and his statements about being stationed in a morgue were not corroborated by personnel records.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria set forth in the Rating Schedule.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim. The chronic back pain issue is remanded for further examination.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed condition of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder due to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for an anxiety disorder is pending.

The veteran's case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a respiratory disorder to include as due to herbicide exposure, and lead in blood. The initial noncompensable rating assigned for residuals of laceration of the left forearm is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and VCAA compliance issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral eye strain, mercury poisoning, and a back disability. The claim for increased evaluation for neurodermatitis was not addressed as it is not related to the issues on appeal.

The Board found that the veteran did not appeal the denial of his PTSD claim in January 1994, and thus, an effective date earlier than October 12, 1995 for the grant of service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying stressors and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% from November 7, 1996 to April 15, 2002 and at 100% since April 16, 2002. The TDIU claim prior to April 16, 2002 is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor, and thus no basis to establish a link between current symptoms and service.