PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted with a 30% rating effective November 21, 2005. In March 2009, the VA increased his disability rating to 50%, effective from the original date of claim.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, right and left knee disabilities, and a left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's reported stressor was found not to have occurred, her current knee and shoulder disabilities were not linked to service, and her immersion syndrome in service is considered the earliest manifestation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial evaluation of PTSD and service connection for hypertension and depression, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the December 1991 rating decision is not new and material, and therefore, the claim of service connection for PTSD cannot be reopened.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, leading to a 30 percent evaluation effective from September 23, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination closer to his residence and obtaining recent medical records from the Boise facility. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of corroborating evidence for the claimed in-service sexual assaults.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance services provided by American Medical Response on June 5, 2005 is granted as the circumstances satisfy the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 17.143(b) for reimbursement of travel expenses.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD related to his active duty service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to an in-service stressor and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination at the nearest VAMC in Arkansas.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted effective January 29, 2004. The Board found no factually ascertainable evidence demonstrating that the Veteran was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

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

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board also granted TDIU from February 23, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection of PTSD. The remaining claims were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD is pending. The case also includes a request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical examination and records, as well as a thorough review of the Veteran's claims file.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and examination to determine current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from coronary artery disease, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a panic disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but assigned a 10 percent rating.