PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since January 21, 2004. Prior to this date, the symptoms were such that a higher rating was not warranted.

The Board found that the RO's January 1991 rating determination denying service connection for PTSD was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The preponderance of evidence demonstrated that the Veteran does not currently have PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by intrusive thoughts, sleep impairment with nightmares, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, hypervigilance, periodic suicidal ideation, avoidance and inability to establish effective relationships but does not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD results in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating effective from September 13, 2002.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is linked to his service, specifically his experiences as a door gunner and helicopter crew chief in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, service connection for fungus infection of the feet, and service connection for a skin disability as a result of exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the March 1982 and August 1984 decisions did not involve CUE in assigning a 10 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that credible independent evidence of his reported stressors has not been provided and thus he did not engage in combat. As a result, his lay testimony alone was insufficient to establish the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service stressors and has been granted service connection.,Multiple Sclerosis was diagnosed after the presumptive period, but its onset during service is supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right and left foot disabilities, were denied by the RO. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder and for service connection for PTSD require further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and scheduling a VA examination. The case is REMANDED to the RO for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and personnel history.

The Board has determined that there is no credible evidence of a current PTSD or lung disability, and the Veteran's statements regarding in-service stressors are not supported by the record. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a claim prior to April 30, 2002.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 5, 2005, for a 50 percent disability evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a liver disability, residuals of melanoma, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and panic disorder) have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD and TDIU. The Board has determined that additional records are needed to determine when these conditions were first diagnosed and when the Veteran stopped working.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders and found that new evidence supports reopening the claim. The case is now remanded to determine if any of these conditions are related to his active service.