PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as it is legally precluded due to final rating decisions.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since May 16, 2003. He is also granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on his overall functioning.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the veteran's PTSD, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Board denied referral of the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD to the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration, as the currently assigned 70 percent rating reasonably describes the veteran's disability level and symptomatology.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective July 5, 2005. Prior to this date, the veteran's PTSD warranted a 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional information regarding the veteran's service connection claims, including verification of in-service stressors for PTSD and exposure to herbicides for diabetes mellitus. The low back disability claim is also being remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain medical records from Forsythe Medical Center and Dr. T.H., who provided opinions on PTSD, in order to properly adjudicate the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that an examination is necessary to determine if the veteran experienced a personal assault in service and whether he currently has PTSD as a result. The left shoulder claim will be deferred until after this determination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence verifying any claimed in-service stressors and thus no nexus between his current diagnosis of PTSD and his military service.

The Board has granted a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD from March 1, 1997 through January 21, 1999. The veteran was also granted a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD effective from January 22, 1999 to October 16, 2006 and again from October 17, 2006. These ratings are based on the severity of symptoms associated with PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, GERD, hypertension, or IBS. The claims have been denied.

The Board found that the evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for PTSD, and thus denied the reopening of the claim.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right wrist disability was granted, effective September 1, 2004.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was received on November 17, 1998. The effective date of this grant is set at the date of receipt of the claim.,The earliest evidence showing that the veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities is dated May 20, 2004. Therefore, TDIU was granted with an effective date of May 20, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, depression, HIV infection, Hepatitis B and C, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The reasons were that there was no diagnosis of PTSD or other conditions in service, no credible evidence supporting claimed stressors, and no medical nexus between current disabilities and military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and is granting it. The case of diabetes mellitus remains pending as a remand is required.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of verified in-service stressors. The veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his military service.