PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to exposure to stressors during his service in the Persian Gulf.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in service due to lack of verified stressors. The claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran has any non-PTSD psychiatric disorders related to his active service.

The Veteran is entitled to a higher initial evaluation of 100 percent for his service-connected PTSD for the portion of the appeal period prior to January 14, 2009.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and PTSD. The evidence submitted was not new or material.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault and granted her claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of current diagnosis. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's depression is caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disorders. The claims for PTSD, a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29, and for a higher initial evaluation of the right knee disorder are withdrawn.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD related to an in-service stressor. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a perforated left eardrum and bilateral hearing loss are not rated higher than noncompensable.,Service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service stressor for PTSD, and the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes or tinnitus. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating for this disability. The evidence does not show that his symptoms are severe enough to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the effective date of service connection, and the Board finds that his impairment more closely approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing, additional records from the Detroit VA Medical Center, and a new examination. The appeal will be handled by the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Board is remanding the case due to a request for a travel board hearing, and no new evidence or changes in service connection theory have been provided.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective May 15, 2007. The issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and chronic low back pain prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has found that the effective date for service connection of PTSD should be April 1, 1989. The issue of an earlier effective date for a 100% evaluation for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there was no communication or action indicating intent to apply for benefits prior to September 27, 1999.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient basis for denying service connection for PTSD and because of the need to verify certain stressors. The Veteran needs a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD related to verified stressors during his active service.