PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder with depression was incurred during service due to military sexual trauma and childhood trauma, which exacerbated her pre-existing psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressor, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board finds that the veteran did not engage in combat while on active duty, and his claimed PTSD stressors have not been corroborated. As a result, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in active duty, and service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 10, 1993 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claim was initially denied in April 1994 due to lack of service records and reopened in October 2003 with the submission of unit records corroborating his reported stressors.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the VAMC for issuance of a SOC regarding enrollment in a higher Priority Group for VA medical care benefits. The veteran and his representative are reminded that they must file a substantive appeal within 60 days of the issuance of the SOC.

The VA determined that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, resulting in a denial of the request.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective from September 29, 2005. Prior to this date, the disability was rated as 50 percent disabling.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Heart Disease (on a presumptive basis due to diabetes mellitus), and Hepatitis C. The claim for PTSD is granted as it relates to an in-service stressor. Service connection for Hypertensive Heart Disease is also granted on a presumptive basis due to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for Hepatitis C remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a left eye condition and an increased evaluation for PTSD. The veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service connected diabetes mellitus. The case is now dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant such an evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims, including obtaining his complete personnel file and verifying any claimed in-service stressors.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine disability was granted. Service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was granted, but service connection for a lung disorder was denied as the evidence did not show a chronic lung disorder during service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether his current tinnitus is related to military service. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including obtaining additional evidence related to his claimed stressors and service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The claim for GERD secondary to PTSD is granted.