PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor. The claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are pending.

The Board has decided the claim for a higher rating for hearing loss. The remaining claims for service connection for hypertension and for higher ratings for PTSD require additional development before being decided on appeal, so these claims are remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD was denied, but his TDIU and Dependants' Education Assistance benefits were granted with earlier effective dates.,The Veteran is entitled to an increased rating for PTSD, but the effective date of this increase cannot be determined as it overlaps with another grant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a VA PTSD examination and reviewing the expanded record to determine if a higher rating is warranted for PTSD and whether a total rating based on individual unemployability is warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported stressors, including witnessing his friend get shot and a Korean person being run over by a vehicle, have not been corroborated. As such, the criteria for service connection for PTSD have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA psychiatric examination, as his last one was conducted in November 2007 and no recent treatment records have been obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is dismissed. The RO has conceded that the Veteran expressed disagreement with the initial disability rating following the December 2001 decision, but did not appeal the effective date assigned therein within one year.

The Board has determined that an effective date of July 13, 2010 for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to May 9, 2011 was rated at 30 percent. From May 9, 2011 onwards, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to May 18, 2011 and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence supported these ratings based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unclear opinions and need for further verification of stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, and effective May 22, 2009, he is entitled to a TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been raised due to additional service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the remaining issues on appeal due to lack of evidence and procedural errors.

The Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or any acquired psychiatric disorder based on current medical evidence and examination findings.

The Veteran does not have a disorder manifested by hives that is attributable to active military service. The Board finds no current diagnosis of a disability manifested by hives, or probative evidence of persistent or recurrent symptoms of such a disability following discharge from active service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent effective from September 19, 2008. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened and granted with an effective date of December 13, 2006. He also received special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ (impotence) due to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depression and memory loss is rated at 50 percent, effective March 7, 2007.,The Veteran's service-connected status post closed head injury with residual posttraumatic headaches is rated at 30 percent, also effective March 7, 2007.