PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent effective January 18, 2005. The June 2007 rating decision granted a 70 percent evaluation for the disability beginning on January 6, 2006.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher evaluation, as it results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability; symptoms include disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and obsessive behaviors which do not interfere with routine activity.

The VA determined that the veteran does not currently have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective May 27, 2005. The Board found that the disability manifests with symptoms such as anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, panic attacks, depression, hypervigilance, and irritability without significant additional criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board has decided in favor of the veteran, granting her claim for service connection for PTSD based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for initial consideration of a claim regarding CUE in an April 1983 decision denying service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The veteran's earlier effective date claim for PTSD will also be reconsidered after this process.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is not a result of verified in-service stressors, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including posttraumatic stress disorder. The veteran's hepatitis C is considered to be related to his military service, specifically due to tattoos obtained during active service and unprotected sexual contact.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of an inservice stressor to support the diagnosis. The claim for disability compensation benefits under Section 1151 for a chronic lung disorder is being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluation of PTSD and service connection for a sleep disorder, finding that his PTSD alone did not warrant an increased rating and that any sleep disorder was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors, and thus the diagnosis of PTSD cannot be linked to active duty.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for acne vulgaris was denied. The initial higher rating claim for PTSD prior to March 20, 2007 was also denied. However, a higher initial rating of 30% for PTSD beginning March 20, 2007 was granted.,The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10% before March 20, 2007 and at 30% from that date onwards.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no independent evidence to corroborate his claimed stressors and thus insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD related to his active military service.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in multiple stages, with the most recent denial of a staged rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD from November 8, 2004.

The Board has ordered a remand to review the evidence and determine if there is sufficient documentation of behavioral changes consistent with an in-service assault, which could support service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD and concluded that the veteran's symptoms were more likely related to his declining health and physical limitations rather than service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are service-connected, with a rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records, verifying stressors, and arranging for a VA examination.