PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is denied as he did not meet the criteria for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 28, 2003, and July 31, 2003.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted, and the effective date of service connection for PTSD was advanced to January 31, 2003. The veteran also received a 30 percent rating for his chronic paranoid schizophrenia as of January 1, 1974.

The Board has determined that a comprehensive psychiatric examination is necessary to decide the veteran's claims for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The RO must also obtain any VA treatment records for those disorders not already associated with the claims file, as well as any relevant military records from Bosnia and Haiti.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to January 5, 2001 and increased to 70 percent after that date. The Board found the criteria for a higher rating were not met in either time period.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to August 29, 2003. From that date, the rating was increased to 50 percent.,An effective date of August 14, 2001, for a 30 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,TDIU benefits are granted prior to August 29, 2003.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there is no credible evidence that he engaged in combat with the enemy, and thus his testimony alone cannot establish the occurrence of the claimed stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 9411. The veteran's symptoms include difficulty understanding complex commands, short-term and long-term memory impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty retaining highly learned materials.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of a nexus between current conditions and military service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss disability have been rated appropriately based on the severity of symptoms and impairment. The current ratings do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that his disability more closely approximates a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of his claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to corroborate his claimed in-service stressors. The VA will attempt to contact the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) to verify the alleged stressors.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service due to lack of verified stressors and insufficient supporting evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a comprehensive psychiatric examination and ensuring notification requirements are satisfied.

The veteran's appeal regarding CUE in the May 1994 rating decision was denied. The claims for earlier effective dates for a 70 percent evaluation of PTSD and TDIU were also denied.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that the veteran's reported in-service stressors are supported by medical evidence. However, it denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection and special monthly compensation.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and there is no credible corroboration or verification of the alleged non-combat stressor in service. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.