PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear opinions regarding whether the veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis based on his verified stressor of exposure to body bags in service.

The VA has granted a 50 percent rating for the service-connected PTSD, but the veteran is seeking an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it based on new evidence that clarified his unit of assignment.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of bilateral eye injuries, sinus condition, and PTSD have been granted. The claim for right knee degenerative joint disease has been denied.

The veteran's PTSD has been manifested by ongoing symptoms of depression and anxiety, with irritability, occasional panic attacks, hypervigilance, occasional suicidal thoughts, and a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score ranging from 45-65. The Board finds that the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD are not met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be granted as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor event, and thus, the diagnosis of PTSD based on these unverified events is not valid. As a result, the veteran's claim for PTSD is denied.

The veteran does not have a psychiatric condition, including PTSD, or a skin disorder, including skin cancer, that is related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete verification of her periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training. Additional VA examinations will be scheduled to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The RO denied service connection for PTSD in August 1996 and did not receive a timely notice of disagreement. The veteran's formal claim to reopen the issue was received on February 11, 2007, which became effective as of that date.

The veteran does not have PTSD and service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. The bilateral flat feet and ankle conditions are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation of his service-connected PTSD, currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral tinnitus, and hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA has not obtained all relevant SSA records and must do so before making a decision on his claim.

The veteran's initial disability rating for PTSD was granted at 30 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.

The veteran did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the July 14, 2005 rating decision for PTSD. As a result, the Board lacks jurisdiction to decide this claim.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and headaches as a residual of head injury and residuals of frostbite. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, clarify diagnoses, and determine if there is a link between current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and noting that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the former or current versions of the rating schedule. The earlier effective date issue was also addressed in the REMAND portion.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, as the evidence shows a diagnosis of PTSD related to witnessing his children die in a fire during active service.