PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU effective from February 29, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his report of in-service stressors upon which the diagnosis was based.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was granted, but the RO is instructed to consider whether 'staged' ratings are appropriate concerning the increased rating claim.

Service connection for hepatitis C was denied. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from November 18, 2004 to January 16, 2009 and a 100% rating was awarded effective on that date.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 100% PTSD rating was denied. The Veteran also had claims for earlier effective dates for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and for dependents' education assistance which were not granted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, residuals of a head injury, residuals of a back injury, and residuals of bilateral knee injuries. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain his medical records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that there is credible supporting evidence of a stressor and medical evidence linking the current diagnosis to in-service events.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes, depressive disorder, hypertension (to include as secondary to diabetes), and a heart disorder due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to insufficient information regarding his claimed stressful experiences during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notice and a need for additional development, including clarification of whether the Veteran desires a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 30 percent disability rating effective June 17, 2005. The appeal for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for residual scar of a left thumb laceration and tinea unguium of the bilateral toenails, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, anemia, mixed personality disorder (claimed as PTSD), and refractive error of eyes have all been denied. The evidence does not show any current disability that would warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and information regarding the appellant's service connection claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and VCAA notice, as well as a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a stressor that occurred during service. The claim for Schizoaffective Disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and PTSD.