PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD). The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a back condition. For the other issues, there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for an ear disorder, to include bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for PTSD, and also contests the validity of a withdrawal of his appeal dated October 20, 2004. The Board has determined that these issues require further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted effective June 26, 2003. The earlier date of receipt of the original claim is used as the effective date.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated during any period of military service and no psychosis manifested within one year after termination of any period of active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including depressive disorder, schizoaffective disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if any of these conditions are related to his military service. The examiner will also assess whether the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective January 24, 2003. However, the effective date cannot be earlier than this as no new and material evidence was submitted prior to the December 1992 denial of his original claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA TBI examination and a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and bilateral pes planus due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is supported by credible evidence and consistent with his service, granted.,There is no clear and convincing evidence to support the claim of Hepatitis C being related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and left ear hearing loss are all service-connected. The Veteran has been granted a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD since September 2, 2005, and is also granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, tinea pedis, and a rash-type disorder involving the chest and legs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service stressors. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current and chronic PTSD diagnosis related to service, and no other psychiatric disorder was linked to service. The preponderance of evidence supports the conclusion that any diagnosed conditions are not causally related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues related to service connection for any acquired psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The psychologist is asked to address whether the aggravation of a personality disorder during active military service was caused by superimposed injury or disease, and to comment on the significance of a November 1971 complaint of nervous trouble.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic amputation of the right middle finger is appropriately rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that his chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred as a result of his in-service trauma and is related to his current symptoms.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD as a result of exposure to enemy fire during the Vietnam War. The case is remanded due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis under DSM-IV standards and if it is at least as likely as not that PTSD is related to his exposure to enemy fire during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since August 24, 2005. The Board has also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder with features of PTSD is likely related to his service in Vietnam, and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of secondary service connection for hypertension will be addressed upon further development.