PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective February 27, 2004. The claim for service connection of pericarditis was remanded and remains pending.

The veteran's appeal includes issues regarding the effective dates for service connection and evaluations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board has determined that these issues are inextricably intertwined with an earlier effective date claim, and thus must be remanded to allow for proper adjudication.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD more closely approximates total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for his PTSD evaluation and TDIU, finding that March 5, 1998 was the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred.

The Board has determined that further examination and development are needed to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychotic disorder, and anxiety disorder. The decision states that there was no pending claim or informal claim before January 30, 2004, and thus no basis to assign an earlier effective date.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10 percent disability rating, effective from January 26, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and alcohol abuse, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service. The claim for TDIU was also denied as he did not have any service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus is being remanded due to insufficient information about his claimed stressors and the need for further examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, herniated disc syndrome, cervical spine disorder, PTSD, and alcoholism. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran's PTSD with dysthymic disorder is rated at 100 percent disabling, and the issues of service connection for a throat disability due to herbicide exposure in service and timely appeal of Hepatitis C evaluation are addressed.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of medical evidence diagnosing the condition.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for COPD, leaving only the psychiatric disorder issue to be decided.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Alcohol Dependence, and Bilateral Hearing Loss. The veteran's reported combat-related stressors were considered verified, but the VA examiner found no evidence of current PTSD. Service connection was not granted as a matter of law due to alcohol dependence being presumed from his own willful misconduct.

The Board has determined that there is no current valid diagnosis of PTSD, and thus service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The veteran's PTSD causes significant impairment in occupational and social functioning, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus could not establish service connection for PTSD based on a verified stressor event. The veteran's claimed stressor, involving confrontation and killing of five people thought to be spies during service in Vietnam, was not corroborated by official records.

The veteran's tension headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The claim for PTSD is reopened, and service connection is granted with a 50 percent disability rating. The claim for uncontrolled trembling spells remains pending as new evidence has not been submitted to reopen it.