PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, headaches, and a low back condition must be remanded due to incomplete information provided by the veteran regarding his alleged stressors in service. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the veteran's claimed in-service personal assaults, including a sexual assault, actually occurred and have caused his PTSD. The RO must arrange for an examination by a VA psychiatrist to provide an opinion on whether the evidence establishes the occurrence of the alleged stressor.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence being submitted. The claim will now be reviewed on a de novo basis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining information about alleged in-service stressors and conducting medical examinations to assess his PTSD and left wrist disability.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because he did not engage in combat and no verified in-service stressor was established.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of claimed stressors and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for PTSD, including a need to verify stressors and obtain updated medical records.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD effective from March 15, 1989.

The veteran's PTSD was found to warrant a 50 percent evaluation from December 15, 1998, to August 11, 2003, and a 70 percent evaluation on and after August 12, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder manifested by periods of depression, difficulty dealing with stress, flashbacks, sporadic thoughts about suicide but no gestures, no speech impairment, and anxiety attacks did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has found that the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder substantially contributed to his death due to psychotic depression, which is presumed to have been incurred during service. The appellant is also granted basic entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional notification and development under the VCAA. The issue remains whether he was rendered unemployable solely due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 70 percent disability rating, effective January 15, 1993. The veteran's ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with people is severely impaired due to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia with PTSD symptomatology effective September 20, 1999. The veteran's claim was pending since August 9, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, a skin disorder due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange), and PTSD. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen previously denied claims of these conditions.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder and a nervous condition. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development of medical records and scheduling of a hearing.

The Board finds that the veteran is not recognized as a former POW for VA purposes and thus does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on prisoner of war status. The veteran's claims for service connection for malnutrition, ulcer disease, heart disease, and PTSD are also denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for PTSD was granted, with the effective date being September 3, 1999.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, and the need to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.