PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD, with symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, and impaired judgment, warrants a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to new evidence, and the veteran's claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder remains under review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying in-service stressors and providing a psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran meets the criteria for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 22, 1998. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder effective June 19, 1996. The veteran's appeal is about the effective date of this grant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran currently has PTSD and whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 8, 1991 was denied. The effective date of the decision is not specified.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD was primarily manifested by severe impairment in industrial and social functioning, near continuous depression affecting the ability to function independently, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, exaggerated startle response, irritability, and mild impairment of impulse control. These symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent from September 27, 1996 to November 6, 1996.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is currently evaluated at 30 percent, and the other service-connected disabilities are all rated at noncompensable (10%). The appeal for higher initial ratings remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD had its origin during his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded to the ROIC for scheduling of a Board hearing and further development.

The veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 30 percent, and the RO has now granted a 50 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration records. The case must also be adjudicated in light of VA regulations regarding service connection for secondary psychiatric disorders.

The veteran has been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the Board finds that this condition was incurred as a result of his service. The claim is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that a link between his current diagnosis and an in-service stressor has not been established.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for an increased rating of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) effective from February 7, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of combat involvement and insufficient evidence supporting claimed stressful experiences.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms were consistent with a 30 percent disability under both old and new VA rating criteria.