PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is a diagnosis of PTSD and a confirmed stressor related to his military service.

The Board found insufficient evidence to grant the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction or loss of use of a creative organ, and PTSD as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for service connection for left eye condition was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or hypertension, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The claim for PTSD is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to missing treatment records and the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from August 26, 2002 to July 24, 2005 due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and dementia. The evidence received since the prior decisions does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. His existing 30 percent rating for PTSD is maintained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it was incurred during his active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, due to a lack of evidence supporting a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a schedular 70 percent rating for PTSD was denied. The evidence considered did not show an increase in disability prior to January 11, 2001.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also denied. The evidence considered did not show an increase in disability prior to January 11, 2001.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective April 9, 2002. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's unit was attacked by mortar and/or rocket fire during service, which could potentially impact his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Hepatitis C was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, and the evidence does not show a causal relationship between the conditions and service. The Veteran's claim for Hepatitis C was also denied due to lack of evidence showing it was related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100 percent effective June 24, 2006 due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of in-service stressor verification. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not established due to a lack of verified in-service stressors, and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disorder. The AMC/RO will also obtain SSA records, verify the Veteran's claimed stressors related to PTSD, schedule him for VA examinations, and provide him with proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, which was secondary to service-connected PTSD. As a result, this issue is dismissed without prejudice.