PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by intrusive memories, anger and depression resulting in moderate impairment of social and occupational functioning. The current symptomatology warrants a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to September 23, 2010, for the grant of a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD and Dependent's Educational Assistance has been granted. The effective date is set at December 23, 1994.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as his account of the claimed in-service stressors is inherently incredible and not substantiated.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for PTSD and an earlier effective date for TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from September 19, 2007. Prior to this date, the rating was 50 percent.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is not due to his service-connected disabilities, and he does not qualify for SMC based on being housebound by reason of a single service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify her claimed stressors and consider a recent amendment to VA regulations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in PTSD and right shoulder disability, leaving only the hypertension rating issue to be decided.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was improperly reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, and the Board has restored the original 70 percent evaluation effective December 1, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for proper notification regarding new and material evidence, as well as obtaining personnel records from the National Personnel Records Center. The issue of whether the character of discharge constitutes a bar to VA benefits will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and type II diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Board determined that the appellant's character of discharge from service was under conditions other than honorable, and thus constituted a bar to VA benefits.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by a disability for which service connection had been established at the time of his death or for which service connection should have been established. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is April 26, 2006, as this was the date the Veteran's reopened claim was received by VA.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The issue of service connection for PTSD remains pending and will require further examination to determine if a link exists between his in-service stressors and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The RO found that the Veteran's symptoms, while significant, did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and to determine if any other psychiatric conditions are related to service. The case will be remanded for these purposes.