PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD. However, due to lack of credible supporting evidence for in-service stressors, service connection cannot be established.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, the highest available under the criteria for mental disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an outstanding DRO hearing request. The case will be returned to the Board for further review after a DRO hearing has been scheduled or if no longer requested.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for impotence, peripheral vascular disease, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine. The Board found that these conditions did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is not related to his active duty service and denied this claim. The PTSD claim was remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD produces occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and considering whether he meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD based on new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50% prior to September 20, 2001 and granted a 100% rating effective from September 20, 2001.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches due to an undiagnosed illness, as well as his fibromyalgia claim with a 20% rating effective March 1, 2002, were both granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD was denied by the Board. The appeal is remanded to complete additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat and there was no corroboration of his claimed in-service stressors. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The appeal is based on the merits and not due to any service connection presumption, exposure basis, or reopening criteria.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease has been related to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 10 percent since September 8, 2003. The Board finds that the current rating is appropriate given the symptoms described.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to July 15, 2003 and from February 1, 2004 to February 13, 2005.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for arthritis of the hands and denied it on the merits. The Veteran's arthritis is not shown to have had onset during service or within one year after separation, nor is there evidence linking it to an in-service injury or event. Service connection for PTSD was also denied as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that hypertension and Type II diabetes mellitus are not related to service, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or PTSD in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor, and thus the criteria for service connection have not been met.