PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred on September 12, 2005 is denied because the care rendered was not a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board found no credible evidence of the veteran's claimed in-service stressors, thus denying service connection for PTSD.

The March 11, 1987 rating decision granted a 50% disability rating for PTSD. The appellant argues that the veteran was entitled to a higher rating due to CUE in this decision and hypothetical entitlement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2).

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The appeal was remanded due to additional development and is now being reconsidered.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU, finding that the veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to July 1, 1997 and thus could not be granted on a non-schedular basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than November 8, 2004 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The veteran was found not to meet the criteria for TDIU or DEA benefits prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the veteran's personnel file and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he meets the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating, as they were not severe enough to cause significant impairment in social and occupational functioning. The claim for an increased rating was therefore denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a higher initial evaluation, as his symptoms do not meet criteria for more than mildly disabling PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability found to be present.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on credible supporting evidence of a stressor occurrence during his military service.

The veteran's claims for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and service connection for hemorrhoids have all been denied. The evidence does not support the establishment of these conditions or theories of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to VCAA notification issues and incomplete examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notice regarding what evidence is needed to reopen and substantiate the claim of service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has not been manifested by the severe occupational and social impairment required for a higher rating.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of the condition and insufficient evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has granted a 100 percent initial disability rating for PTSD, effective from December 29, 2003.