PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 30, 1999 for the award of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to August 14, 2008 and increased to 70 percent effective from that date. TDIU was granted effective from the same date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's presence at the scene of an inservice plane crash is consistent with the circumstances of his service, and thus finds a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the severity of his symptoms. The evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining a VA medical examination and opinion regarding his claimed psychiatric disorders. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and entitlement to TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including stressor verification and Social Security Disability benefits determination. The case will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, specifically the rocket and mortar attacks he experienced while stationed at DaNang in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 14, 2005. The Board found that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. However, the RO granted a TDIU and increased the evaluation to 70 percent for PTSD effective October 23, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that an increased rating beyond this level is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 25, 1998, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The appeal is based on a reopened claim due to new evidence submitted after previous denials.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, sciatica, and hypertension. The decision found that there was no evidence of an in-service stressor supporting a diagnosis of PTSD, and also concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support service connection for sciatica or hypertension.

The Veteran's back disability is not service-connected as it existed prior to service and was not aggravated during service. The claim for PTSD cannot be granted due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred, given his non-compliance with examination requests. The psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also not service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional action, including arranging for a VA examination and obtaining any additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), right knee disability, back disability, and bilateral foot disability have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric condition other than anxiety disorder, which is not related to service. Service connection for PTSD could not be established due to lack of credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD. The previous denial was based on a lack of verified in-service stressors, but the Veteran provided new evidence which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include schizophrenia were denied as the evidence received since the previous denial did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, to include residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, was denied as there is no evidence that it is related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD based on receipt of new and material evidence. However, the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD based upon a corroborated in-service stressor, and there is no evidence to support a finding that an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was incurred in or aggravated by active service.