PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including psychological testing and a review of the veteran's service stressors.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which he claims developed from witnessing a friend's death in basic training and an assault during his time in Germany. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling of VA examinations to assess his eye and psychiatric conditions.

The veteran's PTSD was granted with a 10 percent evaluation, effective March 21, 2003. The residuals of prostate cancer were also granted but at a non-compensable rating.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder was rated at 100 percent disabling prior to May 21, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to the veteran's service-connected PTSD. The veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current nature and extent of his PTSD.

The Board has ordered a remand due to conflicting medical evidence and unconfirmed stressor incidents. The veteran is to be provided with another VA examination by a board of two psychiatrists to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD, and additional development will be conducted to verify any identified stressors.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled personal hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling another hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The VA initially assigned a 50 percent rating for PTSD from November 20, 1997 to December 8, 1998. The appellant appealed this decision and the Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 50 percent during this period.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The right foot injury is not considered incurred or aggravated in peacetime service, and there is no evidence of a psychiatric disorder including post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board finds that the veteran's service in Vietnam, including his exposure to combat-compatible circumstances, supports a finding of service connection for PTSD. The diagnosis is attributed directly to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, despite some inconsistencies in his account.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms do not warrant a 50% disability rating based on reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to a sexual assault during her military service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the previous denial supports a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased disability rating for his service-connected low back strain and denied his claim for service connection for PTSD. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD in the record.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manifests itself by impaired memory, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships, and PTSD-specific symptoms such as daily intrusive combat memories, avoidance of reminders of his military experiences, and combat-related nightmares. The Board granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a mental illness, including paranoia, depression, and PTSD. The VA found no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.