PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the veteran's claimed stressors were not verified. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The appeal is based on a direct link between the veteran's military service and his current psychiatric condition, without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a higher disability rating than 30 percent.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent for the period from November 10, 1992 to July 25, 1994.,PTSD was rated at 30 percent effective from June 7, 1996 (November 7, 1996 - April 6, 1997).,PTSD was rated at 50 percent beginning on April 7, 1997.,The veteran's PTSD remains rated at 50 percent.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 27, 1990, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to additional development required by recent court decisions.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further proceedings, including compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability and PTSD are related to service, warranting a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and granted it. The veteran's left leg and foot scars are being remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran is granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to credible supporting evidence of his in-service experiences. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, pes planus, malaria, sinusitis, left inguinal hernia, residuals of a spider bite of the left groin, and back disability. The claim for right ear hearing loss is granted as incurred in service, but the issue remains pending with respect to compensable ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, did not exist prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The evidence showed no credible in-service stressor and no medical link between current symptoms and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus, service connection for PTSD and BPH/prostatitis due to herbicide exposure. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his PTSD, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the veteran’s PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling throughout the appeal period, with symptoms including depression, anxiety, poor judgment and insight, social isolation, and poor anger control. Total occupational impairment has not been shown.

The VA has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder warrants a 30 percent evaluation, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The veteran's PTSD has been productive of social and occupational impairment due to suicidal ideation, hallucinations, panic attacks, memory impairment, and sleep impairment. The VA granted a 50 percent disability evaluation for the period prior to August 29, 2002.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the employment status and severity of his condition. Further development, including a VA psychiatric examination, is needed.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not total occupational and social impairment. Therefore, a higher rating than the current 50 percent was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to lack of response to scheduled examinations, failure to report for VA evaluations, and insufficient evidence supporting his claims.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.