PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hysterectomy have rendered her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since August 1991, warranting an effective date of January 28, 1987 for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was dismissed due to withdrawal, but the Board granted a TDIU from February 15, 2008, to April 29, 2009, and from July 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the medical opinion provided weighed against the Veteran's claim. The Veteran's stressor allegations have been verified.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the effective date of service connection, reflecting total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting, and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, specifically his participation in rescue and recovery operations following a ship collision. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to November 26, 2007. As of that date, the rating was increased to 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's allegations of a sexual assault during service are not credible, and therefore cannot establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder or PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent disability rating since September 26, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to scheduling issues for his Board hearing. The specific conditions and issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to July 23, 2009 and at 70 percent on and after that date. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been granted with a 70 percent evaluation, effective February 2, 2007. The appeal is dismissed as the issue on appeal from the January 2008 rating decision was only service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to October 31, 2008 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent. Since October 31, 2008, his PTSD has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current psychiatric condition was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial rating of 30% based on the liberalized evidentiary standard for establishing in-service stressors. The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service in Vietnam, including his experiences as an aerial observer during the reopening of Kham Duc.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted based on the verified stressors of mortar and rocket attacks during his service in Vietnam.