PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a verified in-service stressor for PTSD. The Veteran is required to provide additional information or authorization for VA to obtain any necessary records, and the RO must attempt to independently verify the claimed stressor involving witnessing a helicopter crash. If corroborated, the Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination by a psychiatrist.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, have not been shown to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The claims for an initial higher rating for PTSD and for TDIU will be reconsidered in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service connection award of anxiety disorder/PTSD, finding that the earliest possible effective date is May 25, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to insufficient verification of his claimed stressors and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death is reasonably related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder preexisted service and was aggravated by service. PTSD was not caused by any event or incident that occurred during service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since October 14, 2004. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is moot as the Veteran was already receiving a 100 percent rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's eye disorders and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found that the Veteran's refractive errors of the eyes are not disabilities for VA purposes, and his cataracts were first noted many years after separation from active duty.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Board found that his December 27, 1991 claim should be considered a new claim rather than a reopening of a previously denied claim for a nervous disorder. As such, no retroactive effective date was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is more likely a residual of his in-service traumatic experiences.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, are related to her service and granted her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify a claimed stressor and determine if the Veteran suffers from PTSD related to any verified stressor.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD due to a verified in-service stressor, and the Board finds that all criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his diagnosed mental disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of a stressor event in service and thus not meeting the criteria for establishing entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to April 13, 2009 and increased to 50 percent effective from that date. The appeal is for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, and thus denied the claim.