PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete evidence regarding a claimed stressor in service, and for obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection for multiple lipomas, claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, is granted. The effective date remains pending further review.

The veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for bilateral tinnitus, PTSD, and traumatic arthritis of the feet were denied as there was no evidence to support a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The veteran's PTSD was manifested by symptoms of persistent anxiety, social isolation, difficulty sleeping, periodic nightmares, panic attacks with agoraphobia, and irritability that precluded him from following substantially gainful employment during the period of March 1, 1996 to February 4, 1998.,The veteran's PTSD was manifested by total social and occupational impairment subsequent to July 1, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 23, 2000, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The decision is based on the fact that the claim was not previously denied and thus cannot be reopened.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that he was exposed to combat-related stressors during his military service and that his current symptoms are linked to these events.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to lack of verified stressor during his military service and insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to in-service trauma.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, finding that no claim was received between July 8, 1993 and November 3, 1994. The RO granted service connection based on new and material evidence other than service department records as of November 4, 1994.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and further examination.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which he claims was caused by his experiences in Vietnam. The Board has ordered a remand to verify the dates of service and any stressors that may have contributed to his current psychiatric condition.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran did not engage in combat during his tour of duty in Vietnam and that credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors had not been presented.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, or that any such disability was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided, and thus it is being remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied. The appeal is granted.

The veteran's PTSD is now rated at 70 percent effective from May 2, 2003.

The veteran's low back condition and initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids were granted. The veteran's psychiatric claim (PTSD) was denied, but he received a higher disability rating for his hemorrhoids.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in October 1995. The veteran reported specific stressors during his service but did not provide supporting evidence of these stressors.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible and specific in-service stressor evidence.

The veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, heart murmur, varicose veins, and malaria are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to procedural issues and potential need for additional evidence regarding the veteran's service in the Army National Guard.