PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's death was caused by his alcohol abuse, which was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the cause of death is considered service-connected.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for PTSD, but finds that additional development is needed to determine if the stressors occurred and led to the development of PTSD. The case is REMANDED to obtain this information.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service hospitalization records and determining whether an additional VA examination is warranted.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 1, 1993 for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective March 13, 2002. The evaluation reflects significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, but no higher, effective from the date of his claim in November 2000.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for service-connected PTSD, maintaining the current 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's claimed sexual assault in service is corroborated by other evidence and establishing a link between his current PTSD diagnosis and this alleged stressor.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that credible supporting evidence of a stressor linked to his in-service Gulf War experience is present.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various psychiatric, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and respiratory conditions. The veteran's service records are silent on these issues, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that any of the claimed conditions existed prior to service or were aggravated by service.

The veteran's PTSD was initially granted with a 30% evaluation prior to September 26, 2005. From September 26, 2005, the veteran is now rated at 100% for PTSD due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim for PTSD. The Board also determined that an effective date earlier than January 21, 2004 for the award of service connection for chronic paranoid schizophrenia was denied.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the veteran's PTSD, effective from November 2004. The veteran is currently rated at 50 percent under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The veteran died in February 2005 due to acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. The cause of death is not related to his service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, and thus, cannot grant service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating beyond 30 percent.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and a wound on the left arm have been withdrawn, resulting in dismissal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a 100% evaluation prior to April 20, 2005. The effective date for the 100% rating is set at April 20, 2005.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and a back disorder. Additional evidentiary development is required before further consideration of the underlying claims.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants an initial rating of 30 percent prior to November 2, 2005, and no more than 10 percent from that date.