PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has granted a higher rating for PTSD from September 15, 2004 to the present. The effective date of service connection for diabetes mellitus is set at March 7, 2005.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The issue of a claimed schizoaffective disorder is not before the Board on appeal.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and her service records do not indicate she received any award or citation specifically indicative of combat service. The evidence does not support or corroborate her account of personal trauma during military service, leading to a denial of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's reported stressors need to be verified, and a new medical examination is required to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD based on these verified events. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board found no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder. The veteran's diagnosed paranoid personality disorder is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 16, 2004, for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD was primarily manifested by anger, irritability, hypervigilance, sleep impairment and some nightmares. The RO denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD was received on December 20, 2005. The Board found that no earlier effective date could be granted as the last final denial of a reopening request was in October 1994.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical evidence from potential sources. The veteran is also asked to provide any favorable medical opinions linking his psychiatric conditions to service.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent from August 23, 1999 to March 7, 2003.

The veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his service-connected PTSD. The RO must obtain additional VA and private treatment records, provide Vazquez-Flores notice, schedule the veteran for a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD, and readjudicate the claim.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have PTSD related to his military service and there is no credible evidence supporting the occurrence of a personal assault during service. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied. For peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, while the record places the evidence in equipoise as to whether it had its onset during service, the Board finds that the veteran's symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service stressors and insufficient medical evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal of the April 1995 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD, and thus this decision is final. The claim was reopened in August 2001 with an effective date set at May 8, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of increased ratings for PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, as well as his service connection claims for bilateral knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and thoracic spine disability. The decision also dismissed his claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board has remanded the case due to notification issues regarding the standard for new and material evidence prior to August 29, 2001.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for TDIU due to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unemployable prior to November 5, 1997.

The VA has granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD effective December 11, 2001 and increased the rating to 70 percent effective March 26, 2008.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding the veteran's symptoms consistent with moderate impairment.

The Board has ordered the VA to conduct a Morning Report search to verify the veteran's claimed stressors for post-traumatic stress disorder. The case will be remanded for further action.