PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in September 1996. The veteran's VA treatment records from 2006 and 2007 provide clear diagnoses of PTSD based on service stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The veteran's current hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability, and his PTSD is rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of PTSD, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service records from the Alaska Army National Guard.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for numbness on the right side, shortness of breath, headaches, PTSD, and blood in urine and semen, kidney disorder, and swollen testicle. The veteran's claim for residuals of throat surgery with dysphagia and dysphonia remains denied.

The veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were granted service connection with initial evaluations of zero percent. Service connection for headaches, varicose veins, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands was denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for more severe disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service, as there are no verified stressors of record. The claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verifying the veteran's alleged in-service stressors and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination if at least one of his claimed stressors is confirmed.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's diabetes mellitus, effective from when it was determined that the condition required regulated activities. The other issues on appeal have been withdrawn.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to a lack of evidence linking his current psychiatric disorders to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD causes significant impairment in social and occupational functioning, but not to the extent that it warrants a higher rating. The current 50 percent disability rating is maintained.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since August 20, 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent disability rating, effective November 25, 2005. The veteran's PTSD is manifested by restrictive affect, circumstantial speech, moderate memory loss, difficulty in establishing work and social relationships, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The VA is required to attempt to verify the veteran's claimed stressors and provide a PTSD examination if verified. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of PTSD, and as a result the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this matter.

The veteran's claim for a 50 percent rating for PTSD is denied as the earliest effective date that can be assigned is January 1, 2001.,The veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD is denied as the earliest effective date that can be assigned is May 1, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.