PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD related to in-service stressors and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD with depression and paranoia is incurred in active service due to his reported exposure to artillery fire during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect, as his employment was affected by physical limitations and age rather than the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including providing the Veteran with a VCAA notification letter and readjudicating his increased rating claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD based on verified stressors he experienced in service, and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD, cervical spondylosis, left shoulder pain, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle arthritis have been granted service connection. The Veteran did not engage in combat during active military service.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim as to whether his character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits due to an armed robbery conviction. The reopening was based on new evidence suggesting the appellant may have been insane at the time of the offense.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, neurological condition of the hands, a respiratory condition, and PTSD due to lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran is granted a 70% disability evaluation for PTSD effective December 7, 2005. The earlier effective date of July 18, 2005, is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional action due to a lack of prior review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because the claimed stressors were not verified and there is no evidence of combat engagement. The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% prior to August 2008 and at 70% since then, but the Board found that neither rating exceeded what was warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including assigning a disability rating for PTSD and readjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is at least as likely as not related to stressors experienced during active duty, and the Board finds that service connection for PTSD should be granted.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied because the stressors claimed are not related to his honorable active service from February 5, 1951, to November 17, 1952. The Veteran was discharged under dishonorable conditions during his second period of active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective March 29, 2004. The rating has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The VA determined that the current manifestations of PTSD do not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria set forth in the Rating Schedule.