PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred PTSD as a result of service, and therefore grants this claim. The claims for arthritis and residuals of cold weather injury are remanded for further examination.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be reviewed based on this new evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a continuity of symptomatology or direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service personal assault. The claim to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for status post total hysterectomy was also denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that credible evidence corroborating his claimed in-service stressors has not been presented.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and established a 70% disability rating, effective from July 31, 1997. The veteran's lower back disability claim was denied.,The February 1999 decision denying service connection for PTSD is considered to have been based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), resulting in the grant of an earlier effective date.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The cause of death was attributed to lung metastases due to nasopharyngeal cancer, which is not shown by competent clinical evidence to be related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied by the Board. The earliest possible effective date is March 5, 1998, which is one year prior to the date of receipt of the reopened claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for flat feet, a skin condition to include as due to exposure to herbicides, and a psychiatric condition including PTSD. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from November 9, 2001 to December 18, 2005. For the period beginning on December 19, 2005, a higher rating of 50 percent is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and therefore service connection is denied. The claim for PTSD will be remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its validity and etiology. The claim for neurologic residuals of head injury will also be remanded as it involves multiple symptoms including headaches and cognitive impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis C are not supported by evidence of record. The claim for PTSD is denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors, while the claim for hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating of 30 percent for his service-connected PTSD, finding that the symptoms meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or Actinic Keratoses that are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected, with evidence showing a link between her in-service sexual assaults and current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current cervical spine disability or PTSD, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and major depression in January 1989, which became final. The veteran did not appeal this decision. The RO reopened his claim based on new and material evidence received after October 11, 2001, and granted service connection for PTSD and major depression with a 100% disability rating effective from October 11, 2001.

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

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is being remanded due to the need to address a potential clear and unmistakable error in a previous denial.