PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling, effective from the date of his claim. The Board also granted SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active military duty and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 6, 1999 for service connection for PTSD was denied as the RO had previously denied such a claim in November 1999 and December 2000.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 22, 2003 for a 100 percent evaluation for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied. The effective date of the increased rating was assigned on May 22, 2003.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70%, meeting the minimum schedular criteria for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their severity alone.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not engage in combat and his claimed stressors are unsupported. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a verified in-service stressor. The low back disability was also found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now receiving a 50 percent rating for his service-connected PTSD with secondary depressive disorder.

The Veteran does not have PTSD and the claim is denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or as a consequence of service-connected PTSD. The cause of death, liver failure due to alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis C, is attributed to his post-service alcohol abuse and drug use.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a skin rash to include as due to Agent Orange exposure, and a neurological disability including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord tumor, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has ordered the RO to review the claim of service connection for PTSD in light of all evidence added since December 1, 2008, including a Report of Confidential Social Security Benefit Information. The case will be returned to the Board after this review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as arranging for medical opinions regarding PTSD, hypertension, undiagnosed illness, fatigue, weakness, sleep disturbance, mild cognitive impairment, and bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and residuals of a fracture of the left femur, as well as his claim for TDIU, were denied by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to determine whether PTSD is service-connected and an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection. The status of the right ankle and bilateral hip disorders is pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected PTSD, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation during the relevant time periods.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder was granted, effective from August 3, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for her TDIU, finding that prior to June 25, 2002, she did not have a sufficient rating for her PTSD under the criteria of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) due to the lack of a combined rating at or above 70%.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA/Non-VA medical records.

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