PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no timely appeal of a previous denial in 1974, and the current claim does not meet the legal criteria for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD is not rated higher than 50 percent, and his initial noncompensable evaluation for diabetic retinopathy from January 2006 remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and issuing a Statement of the Case on the increased rating issue.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his service, and thus could not establish a verifiable in-service stressor. As such, the claim for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but does not cause reduced reliability and productivity. The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected PTSD. The case is REMANDED to determine the current level of severity and obtain updated treatment records.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and her stressors have been corroborated. The Board finds it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's PTSD is attributable to her active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and a VA examination to evaluate his PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the VA Form 9 concerning the denial of service connection for hearing loss and PTSD was timely filed. The appeal will continue on these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor and thus no basis to establish a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent prior to August 26, 2008 and increased to 30 percent after that date.,An effective date of November 3, 2006 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been denied. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of combat experience or verified stressors, and the Board found that his PTSD did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors, including a personal assault. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from August 29, 2007. This rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to September 25, 2000.

The Veteran does not have proof of combat experience and there is no independently verified stressor. There also is no competent and persuasive medical evidence otherwise indicating he has PTSD as a result of a confirmed stressor coincident with his military service.