PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his current symptoms.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and credible supporting evidence confirms the occurrence of in-service stressors. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from March 3, 2004 to September 19, 2007 and for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD from September 20, 2007 to the present.

The Veteran's claimed PTSD was not found to be service-connected due to lack of credible evidence supporting combat participation and uncorroborated stressors.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's PTSD, effective from August 9, 2008. The Veteran previously had a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service, including hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of March 2, 2004 for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed PTSD was precipitated by stressors experienced while serving in Vietnam, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes, meet the schedular requirements for consideration of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), as his combined rating is 80 percent with at least one disability rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective May 1, 2005. The other disabilities (residual scar from hernia repair, hypertension, and thoracolumbar spine arthritis) are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted with a 30% disability rating effective October 6, 2003. The current evaluation remains at 30%.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 14, 2005 for a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, and hearing loss of the left ear are being remanded due to incomplete evaluations.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD for VA purposes, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, weekly nightmares, irritability, and trouble dealing with authority. However, his occupational and social impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is not shown to meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 70% PTSD disability rating should be February 24, 2006, as this is when the Veteran's symptoms warranted such a rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as there is no indication of a formal claim prior to September 28, 1998.