PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the veteran's service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his low back disability. The RO must obtain all relevant medical records, including those from VA treatment centers, and attempt to corroborate the veteran's reported in-service stressful experiences. If combat service or specific stressors are verified, a VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the veteran meets the criteria for PTSD and assess the severity of his low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnoses of major depression and PTSD are more likely than not due to her treatment in the Navy, specifically during a period when she was interrogated about her sexual preference. As such, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The veteran's PTSD disability picture, characterized by symptoms such as depression, irritability, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation throughout the entire appeal period.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus disabilities, and there is no evidence linking his claimed PTSD to service. As a result, the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD were denied.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and PTSD, finding no evidence of a relationship to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a schedular evaluation of 100 percent, effective from when his claim was received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a right wrist fracture, and secondary service connection for ulcerative colitis. The denial was based on lack of evidence supporting the presence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD symptoms did not warrant an increased evaluation beyond 50 percent, as his condition was characterized by irritability, chronic sleep disturbance, constricted affect, and depression. He remained employed and maintained effective relationships with his family.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The case is being remanded for further review.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 5, 1992 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with schizophrenia. The decision found that there was no pending claim prior to October 5, 1992, which could have resulted in such a benefit.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not service-connected as there was no verified in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is necessary to fully adjudicate the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, which she claims is secondary to a personal assault during military service. The case is being remanded to obtain relevant Social Security Administration records and to schedule the veteran for another VA mental disorders examination.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran did not provide evidence to establish an in-service stressor, and thus denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD, finding that the symptoms do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The case is being remanded for further development, including the completion of specific procedures required by VA regulations regarding claims based on personal assault. A new VA psychiatric examination will be conducted to determine if PTSD is etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenic/bipolar disorder, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and adjudicative action.

The veteran's PTSD is not considered to have originated in service or from any incident experienced therein, and therefore the claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective from September 28, 2000, the date of receipt of the claim for increased compensation due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran's contention for an earlier effective date is not supported by the law.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorders other than PTSD.