PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD based on DSM-IV criteria and did not establish a verified in-service stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to incomplete evidentiary development, including missing treatment records and verification of in-service stressors. The RO is instructed to obtain relevant medical records, verify claimed stressors, and schedule a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, post-gastric resection, and bilateral hearing loss, result in a combined disability evaluation of 60 percent. However, the Board denied his claim for TDIU as his conditions do not prevent him from performing all kinds of substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to determine the existence and etiology of her claimed conditions, including service connection for residuals of a head injury with headaches, PTSD, incontinence, and chronic cervicitis.

The Board has reopened the claim and established that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on verified in-service stressors. The appeal for reopening was granted, and the claim for service connection for PTSD is now considered.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD related to his service and denied both claims for PTSD and lupus. The VA examinations did not diagnose PTSD, and there was no evidence linking lupus to service.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD effective from November 20, 1998, the date of a VA report showing diagnosis of PTSD. The veteran's petition to reopen his claim was received within one year of this report.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from hypertensive heart disease. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with a major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a VA examination.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective from March 3, 2003. The Board also found that the veteran meets criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD, which renders moot the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 2000.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD. The claim for ear disease, to include otitis media, remains denied as no new and material evidence was found.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a thorough VA examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 28, 2000 for a total rating of 100 percent for PTSD. The RO assigned this effective date based on receipt of his VA Form 21-8940 application.

The RO granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation, effective from January 28, 2002. The veteran is now challenging the initial evaluation of 50 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including verifying stressors and obtaining a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and extent of his PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD and migraine headaches were found to be disabling, but not at the levels required for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was granted based on her service-connected disabilities preventing her from obtaining or maintaining employment.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of the disorder. The claim for diabetes mellitus secondary to Agent Orange exposure was granted, but the rating assigned and effective date are not specified.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, including a lack of verified stressors. The RO is instructed to obtain medical records, service personnel records, and verify the alleged stressors through CURR. A VA examination should be conducted to determine the existence and etiology of the veteran's psychiatric conditions.