PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing skin disorder was aggravated during active service and granted service connection for it. The claim for memory loss other than PTSD is denied as not related to service, but the Veteran's PTSD is granted a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD was incurred in active service due to an inservice sexual assault.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and essential hypertension, finding insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to January 24, 2003 and increased to 70 percent from that date. The decision is granted for the higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that the grant of service connection for PTSD in September 1999 was a contributing factor to the TDIU award. The effective date could not be prior to March 2, 1999 due to the appellant not meeting the minimum requirements for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, depression, and/or PTSD. The Veteran's claim was also denied regarding neurologic and neuropsychological signs and symptoms being the result of an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and depression, as the claimed stressor was not verified and the Veteran's account of events was deemed incredible.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent for the period prior to March 15, 2005. From March 15, 2005 to September 16, 2007, he is rated at 50 percent. Beginning on September 17, 2007, his PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and for a TDIU rating are dismissed as there is no remaining case or controversy over which the Board has jurisdiction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD that is attributable to a combat stressor, a verified non-combat stressor in service, or an in-service stressor resulting from the Veteran's own willful misconduct. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders did not manifest during or within one year after service and are not related to any aspect of active duty or active duty for training.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and rated at 50 percent effective from August 31, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a head wound, and residuals of a buttocks wound were denied as there is no competent medical evidence associating any of these conditions with his active service.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability decision and related evidence, scheduling a VA psychiatric examination, rating the Veteran's disabilities under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities, and considering whether the Veteran is totally disabled or unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision on the merits of the claim for service connection for PTSD can be reached. The Veteran's stressor statement and VA outpatient treatment reports indicate he served in Vietnam as a military policeman and cook, and experienced traumatic events during his service. However, verification of specific stressors such as an explosion at Cam Rahn Bay is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and the acquisition of additional medical records. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 8, 2003, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating for the entire period of claim, effective June 1, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected depressive disorder, NOS and PTSD, as well as tinnitus, are denied. The highest available rating for tinnitus is 10 percent.