PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and his service records do not show any diagnosis of PTSD during service. The evidence provided by the Veteran regarding stressors is insufficient to corroborate his claims, and there is no credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressor. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his stressor regarding his purported burial detail duties at Fort Bliss was not verified and thus did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The decision also noted that no other psychiatric disorder associated with service was identified.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and further development of the record.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and heart disease have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD during service or currently suffers from PTSD. Diabetes mellitus is not related to service, nor can it be presumed due to herbicide exposure. Heart disease was also not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to the Veteran's PTSD, and denied DIC benefits under both sections 1310 and 1318. The Veteran's lung cancer was not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by near-obsessional thoughts, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and fantasies of violence. GAF scores of 53 and 55 were assigned, indicative of occupational and social impairment with no more than reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is a result of in-service stressors, specifically witnessing the deaths of two friends during his service in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, left knee instability, degenerative arthritis of the left knee associated with left knee instability, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, do not meet the requisite schedular percentages for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30% since November 2005. The Board has now granted a 70% rating effective May 13, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between any claimed condition and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a prior informal or formal claim filed before June 27, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no objective evidence verifying the occurrence of any alleged in-service stressor. The claim for residuals of right shoulder injury will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran does not have PTSD that is service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a disability manifested by dizziness and vertigo were denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current diagnoses or disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 18, 2006, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Board finds that there was no informal or formal claim filed prior to April 18, 2006.