PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD was denied as it was not factually ascertainable that the disability first became 100 percent disabling within one year prior to June 1, 1992.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right elbow disorder, a right shoulder disorder, PTSD, hepatitis C, a right eye disorder, an ulcer, a scar of the right shoulder, and tinea versicolor were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disorder, left leg disorder, and PTSD. The claim for schizophrenia was remanded.

The Veteran was granted a 100 percent disability rating for anxiety disorder with PTSD, effective June 8, 2008, due to his inability to obtain or retain employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred to support the current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD, stomach ulcer, post-operative scars on the abdomen, and scar residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left buttock were rated as non-compensable due to symptoms not meeting the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bilateral hearing loss were denied due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors, and no evidence of a current disability for the hearing loss.

The claim for an effective date earlier than November 1, 1999, for the award of service connection and award of compensation for PTSD with insomnia is denied as there is no evidence of a pending claim prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied because the medical evidence did not show a clinical diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated as 50 percent disabling due to symptoms such as disturbances of mood and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity; including flattened affect; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory; disturbance of motivation and mood; and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against granting an evaluation in excess of 50 percent under 38 C.F.R. § 4.130, DC 9411 at any time.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent due to constant or nearly constant symptoms refractory to therapy, including widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and conduct a new VA examination.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him permanently bedridden or in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to a disability evaluation greater than 50 percent for PTSD/OCD from August 31, 2004 through August 12, 2007 was withdrawn by the Veteran and is dismissed. The claim for TDIU was denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further action as the Board's previous decision was found to inaccurately portray the December 2002 RO action.

The veteran did not submit a timely substantive appeal with regard to the September 2002 and October 2002 rating decisions, which denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, service connection for a heart disorder, service connection for hearing loss, and entitlement to TDIU.

The veteran withdrew the appeal before a decision was made.