PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the veteran's service-connected PTSD results in total occupational and social impairment, resulting in a mixed disposition for this issue. The veteran's tinnitus claim was denied due to lack of medical evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including seeking verification of stressor events in service and obtaining a VA psychiatric evaluation to determine if PTSD is present.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and granted service connection for a back disability. However, the service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective from the date of the grant of service connection. The veteran's PTSD is characterized by reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as impaired memory, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective social relationships.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her PTSD claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's PTSD causes mild to moderate social impairment with some impairment of memory and disturbances of motivation and mood, warranting a higher initial disability rating of 30 percent.

The RO remanded the case for further development due to a change in hearing presiding officer.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claims. The issue of an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms do not warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to November 1, 2004 was denied. The VA found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria provided.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and hearing.

The veteran's gastrointestinal disorder and PTSD have not been shown to be service-connected, resulting in a denial of his claims. The initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been found to be productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximates serious social and occupational impairment, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD, which was granted in October 6, 2003. The RO needs to schedule the veteran for a videoconference hearing and then determine if the requested earlier effective date should be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed disability of PTSD or carcinoma, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of the appeals with regard to the claims for service connection for residuals of back surgery and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is granted as of July 7, 2003, the date he filed a claim for permanency of his total disability rating for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 31, 2002 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as there was no valid claim to consider.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis and PTSD, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or in-service exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient supporting evidence for the veteran's claimed in-service stressors. The preponderance of the evidence did not support service connection for any psychiatric disorders.