PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD stressors. The RO is instructed to conduct further research and provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that there was sufficient corroborative evidence of a sexual assault in service. The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her left knee injury with chondromalacia is remanded.

The Board determined that a 100 percent rating was warranted for the PTSD effective from May 21, 1998. The Board further determined that a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 21, 1998, was not warranted.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability level.

The veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for PTSD was denied. The RO had previously granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating, which was later increased to 30 percent prior to February 6, 2004, and then to 50 percent from that date.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1985 and February 1987 decisions that denied accrued disability compensation for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder in July 1988, which is final. The veteran submitted a new application to reopen the claim on December 9, 2005, and was granted service connection effective December 9, 1999. An earlier effective date prior to December 9, 1999, cannot be granted as it would violate legal preclusion.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further review by a Decision Review Officer. The veteran is seeking service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus, L4-L5 with chronic back strain and PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is primarily unable to work due to a low back disability from an intercurrent injury and severe heart disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including schizophizoaffective disorder and PTSD, are service-connected. The initial rating for undiagnosed illness is granted at 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is to determine if he should receive a higher initial rating for his PTSD, which was previously granted. The VA has not provided the necessary VCAA notice and development as per the Board's previous remand.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent for the period from April 3, 2000 to September 19, 2002. From September 20, 2002 to July 31, 2003, a 50 percent rating was granted. Beginning August 1, 2003, the VA assigned a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying stressors. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including additional examination and VCAA compliance.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that there are questions regarding the veteran's character of discharge and requires additional development to address these issues before a final decision can be made on his claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a schedular evaluation in excess of 50 percent, and therefore denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for PTSD and TDIU benefits, finding that the earliest date for both was August 24, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no verified in-service stressor to support his diagnosis.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50% disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The VA has not yet determined whether he should be granted a higher evaluation for his service-connected shrapnel wound to the right arm or compensation for his bilateral hearing loss prior to June 29, 2005.