PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the veteran's claimed stressors and determine if service connection for PTSD can be established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for PTSD remains pending as there are conflicting diagnoses and stressor verification issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding PTSD diagnosis and incomplete service records. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The veteran's PTSD was rated as 30 percent disabling prior to November 1, 2006, and as 50 percent thereafter. The rating is based on the criteria for a disability due to PTSD.

The veteran's claim for higher evaluations of his service-connected psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has determined that additional development of the case is necessary due to outstanding VA and private records, as well as the need for verification of the appellant's alleged PTSD stressor event. The appeal will be REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is pending and needs to be scheduled for a travel Board hearing at the Phoenix, Arizona RO.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The veteran's request for a computer and golf clubs under the Individual Independent Living Program was denied because they are not considered necessary to his independence in daily living.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not produce disability of such severity that he requires the aid and attendance of another person or is housebound due to his service-connected conditions.

The VA has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective July 21, 2003. As of May 22, 2007, the veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent due to total social and occupational impairment.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms were essentially reflective of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted evidence did not verify any claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and readjudicating the service connection claims and TDIU rating.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD with anxiety disorder. The rating for PTSD with anxiety disorder was also denied, as there is no showing of occupational and social impairment warranting higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral inguinal hernia repair, including associated surgical scars. Additional development is needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, despite the veteran's assertions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of stressor evidence and a need for further examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, residuals of a head injury, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and a sleep disorder. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's psychological symptoms are consistent with a history of sexual assault and that his PTSD was caused by the sexual assault during service.