PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has granted the appellant's claim of service connection for PTSD, effective as of March 1998. The claim is also granted for an increased evaluation for PTSD for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to corroborate any inservice stressors. The preponderance of the evidence showed that the veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and employment records.

The Board denied service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and cardiovascular disorder. The denial of the cardiovascular disorder issue is being remanded to the RO.

The veteran claims service connection for chronic PTSD, but the Board is remanding the case to verify his claimed stressor in Taiwan and conduct a VA examination.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hepatitis C or PTSD. The VA medical records do not show a current diagnosis of either condition, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the veteran's claimed stressors, including verifying if he was assigned to remove bodies from the Pacific Ocean after a tidal wave on Maui in 1961. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence of record.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, reflecting significant impairment in most areas of work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for PTSD, heart condition, sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, and memory loss to allow for proper development of evidence, including notification regarding personal assault claims and VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a zero percent disability rating. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and knee/back conditions are not compensably rated, but the appeal is remanded to determine appropriate ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ALS, as well as his request for an increased rating for PTSD. The veteran was granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD effective July 2, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Lincoln RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is associated with a reported stressor (rocket attacks sustained by his unit, CMAC) which occurred during his period of active military service in the Republic of Vietnam. As such, the Board finds that each element required for entitlement to service connection has been satisfied and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify stressor events and determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is related to service.

The veteran died in a single-vehicle accident, and the appellant argues that his death was caused by post-traumatic stress disorder or due to his use of alcohol related to his service-connected condition. Further development is needed to determine if the cause of death was suicide or alcohol use.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed neuropsychiatric disorder and PTSD were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher 70 percent evaluation is warranted based on his symptoms.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection and a total rating based on individual unemployability, were denied.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that it is productive of total occupational and social impairment.