PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, but denied. The claim for service connection for vertigo was also denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for PTSD, and the issue is dismissed.

The veteran's PTSD has been manifested by complaints of panic attacks, irritability, angry outbursts, hypervigilance, startled response, and depressive mood, with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores indicating no more than moderate impairment. The Board finds that an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as there was no credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressor and no medical evidence linking any of the diagnosed conditions to military service.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and essential hypertension as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or that the conditions were related to active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, partial blindness, and malignant melanoma due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as the earliest possible effective date is the date the claim was received, October 12, 2004.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his condition is related to his experiences in Vietnam.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD, with depressive disorder and history of polysubstance dependence, was not characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to March 2, 2007.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, although generally functioning satisfactorily.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for his claimed inservice stressors.

The Board remands the case for further development to verify the veteran's reported stressors and potentially schedule an examination.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder as there was no in-service stressor supporting a diagnosis of PTSD that could be corroborated, and medical evidence failed to show a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as there was no verified in-service personal assault stressor.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a claim prior to November 21, 2002.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD from August 29, 2005, and continued the denial of service connection for residuals of a motor vehicle accident.

The veteran's current tinea cruris is etiologically related to his active service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, PTSD, and pes planus, as well as the claim for VA treatment for a psychosis.

The veteran's PTSD is not shown to be manifested by symptoms that would warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent.