PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 21, 2005, for the dependency allowance for his spouse. The decision stated that the Veteran did not provide sufficient information to establish dependents within a year of receiving notification and thus was not entitled to an earlier effective date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and is remanding it to allow for further development, including verification of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a requested personal hearing. The issues of service connection are pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service exposure, and he has been granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD and major depressive disorder) remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and the initial rating for his facial scar of the left cheek was also denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, scheduling a more current VA examination, and adjudicating entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, which meets the schedular criteria for this condition. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 26, 2009. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has been reopened but remains denied. The claim for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD was not granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the initial ratings of PTSD from October 3, 2006 to September 15, 2009 and on and after September 16, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his claims under the revised regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and a review of the record.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board has determined that this level of disability warrants a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, employment information from his former employer, and a medical examination to determine if his service-connected PTSD alone renders him unemployable.

The Veteran died in August 2008 and had a 40% combined service-connected disability rating for several disabilities from March 1954. He filed claims for increased ratings and service connection, including PTSD, but did not have any pending claims at the time of his death. The appellant's claim for accrued benefits is denied as there were no entitlements to which he was entitled under existing ratings or decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms such as nightmares, insomnia, irritability, social isolation, panic attacks, impaired judgment, and occasional outbursts of anger. The Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent rating are met, granting an initial 50 percent disability rating effective September 7, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are currently moderate, resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 50 percent rating have been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a metal detector as part of his vocational rehabilitation program due to the lack of necessity and vital importance in achieving independent living goals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected and effective as of June 17, 1993. The Veteran was granted a retroactive evaluation of 100 percent for PTSD from November 1, 1993 to June 29, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was not received until April 14, 2008. Therefore, the earliest possible effective date is granted as of that date.

The Veteran's treatment at a private hospital was not authorized by VA, and the Board finds that he could have been safely transferred to a VA facility after March 22, 2008. Therefore, payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses is denied.