PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective April 1, 2004.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by occasional nightmares, chronic sleep impairment, depression, and intrusive thoughts about Vietnam. The Board finds that the schedular criteria for a disability rating of 30 percent for PTSD have been met.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that the evidence did not warrant such a grant based on his pre-service personality disorder diagnosis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development and conflicting medical evidence regarding his PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for chronic bilateral conjunctivitis and an initial evaluation greater than 30 percent for PTSD from March 25, 2002 to the present were denied. The claim for service connection for sinusitis was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further verification of stressors. The veteran's claim will be reviewed again after additional development.

The veteran's alcohol dependence is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,An effective date of April 25, 1995 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor and that the diagnosis of PTSD is based on unsubstantiated reports provided by the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service stressors and insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to any such stressors.

The veteran's claim for TDIU was granted on March 5, 2003, with a schedular evaluation of 70% for PTSD. However, the effective date cannot be earlier than the date entitlement arose, which is not specified in the decision.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, as there were no verified stressors and the diagnoses were based on unsubstantiated reports of a stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a heart disorder, and a lung disorder (asbestosis) due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C. The RO granted his claim for service connection for PTSD but assigned an initial 30 percent rating, which is the maximum non-compensable rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to a confirmed in-service stressor involving witnessing the aftermath of a soldier's suicide during his deployment to Bosnia. As such, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board finds that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and/or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, is reasonably of service origin. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of 50 percent or higher for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD from January 23, 2003, based on severe occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus remain on appeal.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability. The effective date for service connection remains February 25, 2002.