PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective from November 17, 2005. The Board finds that the symptoms of PTSD have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since February 10, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches but granted service connection for PTSD. The veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of corroborated stressor. The claims for coronary artery disease and hypertension were granted, but the veteran is still seeking a higher rating. His TDIU claim remains pending as his psychiatric disabilities may impact his employability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and whether it precludes him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's PTSD. The appeal is pending further action.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressors, leading to a denial of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The veteran's depression is considered to have been incurred during active service. There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder or PTSD until decades post-service, nor is there any competent evidence linking these conditions to service. Service connection was granted on the basis of new and material evidence.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his TDIU benefit, which was granted in April 2004. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the earliest date at which he became unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the veteran's personnel file and attempting to corroborate his claimed stressors. A VA psychiatric examination will be scheduled to determine if PTSD is related to service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by sleep disturbance, intrusive thoughts and memories, irritability without violence, some depression and anxiety. The Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 30 percent is not warranted for the veteran's PTSD.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and/or other any psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information about the stressors leading to his diagnosis, conduct a VA examination, and determine if there is a link between his current symptoms and in-service events.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation of PTSD was denied.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for eligibility to Dependents Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinea cruris were evaluated, with the PTSD rated at 50 percent disabling. The tinea cruris was not compensably rated.

The VA denied an increased rating for the service-connected PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants the claim.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to November 15, 1999. The earliest assigned date of a total rating was November 15, 1999.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus related to in-service combat stressors. Service connection was also granted for cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities with a 30% disability rating.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed stressors and a need for further examination.