PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 30 percent since November 11, 2003. The VA examiner found the veteran to have moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports this claim. The veteran's PTSD is presumed to have been incurred during service due to a personal assault, but other psychiatric disorders are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for another VA examination to determine if the veteran has PTSD related to his service in Korea.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and noting inconsistencies between the veteran's reported experiences in service and medical records.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent prior to June 6, 2006 and increased to 30 percent beginning June 6, 2006.,PTSD symptoms included intrusive thoughts, nightmares, irritability, hypervigilance, and difficulty in establishing relationships.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the earlier effective date for PTSD and whether the assigned effective date was clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that there was no verified stressor prior to October 30, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of an increased rating beyond 50 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for residuals of a nasal fracture and denied service connection due to lack of evidence showing in-service injury. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no credible evidence supporting its occurrence during active duty.

The veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent initial rating prior to and after January 31, 2007.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU), and entitlement to a temporary total rating under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 were denied as there was no verified in-service stressors for PTSD, and the veteran's scar did not result in his being unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a request for personnel records related to training jumps in 1953.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 25, 2006. The Board found that the evidence did not show more than mild impairment during earlier periods and insufficient symptoms to warrant a higher rating.

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

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD is currently no more than moderately disabling, resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD due to his service, and denied his claims for heart disorders and a back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since August 9, 2004, reflecting significant social and occupational impairment.