PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, is not service-connected. Essential hypertension and coronary artery disease are also not service-connected, but are found to be related to diabetes mellitus. Erectile dysfunction is not service-connected, but is considered proximately due to diabetes mellitus. Chronic tinnitus is service-connected as a complication of hearing loss.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from November 14, 2003. The decision also addressed the issue of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and found that the veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the veteran for an examination to evaluate his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development of the veteran's psychiatric status, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD based on new evidence. The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent since November 5, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and a need to provide proper VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension (including as secondary to PTSD). The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating, warranting an increased disability rating.

The Board has ordered the RO to gather and submit additional information about the veteran's claimed stressors, including letters home from his family. The RO must then determine if these stressors are credible and sufficient to establish service connection for PTSD. If so, a VA examination will be conducted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no diagnosis of PTSD in the record.,The Board also denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 13, 2005, for TDIU because he did not meet the criteria for unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus, have made him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU based on these conditions.

The veteran's PTSD was not productive of occupational and social impairments in most areas, but he had significant psychiatric impairment due to his organic brain syndrome with seizures. His condition did not warrant a higher rating during the period from June 25, 1999 to December 11, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, skin rash, dizzy spells, and stomach problems associated with herbicide exposure. The veteran's lower back disability was granted a 40% evaluation, but the claim for an increased evaluation of hearing loss remains pending.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and concluding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the veteran's in-service stressors and his current symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right arm and hand disabilities, residuals of amputation of the right great toe, and PTSD. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran meets all three criteria for service connection of PTSD, including a current medical diagnosis and a verified in-service stressor. Therefore, the claim is granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD effective August 23, 2006. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to July 7, 2005. From July 7, 2005, to April 24, 2007, the rating remained at 50 percent. Since April 25, 2007, the veteran's PTSD is rated as 100 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding no evidence of in-service injury or combat experience that could support these claims.