PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10% initial rating for the veteran's skin disability. The PTSD claim was reopened based on new evidence, while the skin condition remains at its current level of severity.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective from the date of the decision. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to January 9, 2007, and greater than 20 percent on or after that date.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD, finding that May 16, 2001 is the earliest date as of which the schedular rating criteria for a TDIU were met.

The Board found that the veteran's testimony regarding her service stressors was not credible and denied her claim for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective July 16, 2007.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and PTSD, finding that the earliest date of entitlement was November 21, 1988 for tinnitus and December 30, 1992 for PTSD.,The veteran argued that his conditions began during service or prior to the assigned effective dates. The Board found no legal authority to grant earlier effective dates based on these arguments.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a hearing at the RO.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective April 21, 2004. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms including flattened affect, intermittent panic attacks, and difficulty in understanding complex commands.

The veteran's claim for increase in post-traumatic stress disorder and total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disability, an enlarged uterus or any residuals thereof, PTSD, gastrointestinal disorder, or bilateral hand disability as claimed. The evidence does not support these claims based on service connection.

The veteran is seeking an increased initial disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The RO has not yet considered the additional VA treatment records submitted by the veteran, and this appeal must be returned to the RO for consideration of that evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, based on direct evidence of a link between his military service and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD, and a VA examination is needed to determine if he meets the criteria for this disorder.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and clinical records of his VA treatment. The issues are whether he should receive a higher initial evaluation for his left knee condition or be granted TDIU.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service in Vietnam did not qualify for VA benefits due to his dishonorable discharge, and thus denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a 50% disability rating for PTSD and TDIU benefits were denied as there was no evidence of an increase in severity within the year prior to April 8, 2002.,VA received the veteran's claims on April 8, 2002. The RO assigned an effective date of April 8, 2002 for the award of a 50% disability rating for PTSD and TDIU benefits.

The veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development of the record, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination, is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated.