PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which he claims was caused by combat exposure during his time in the Vietnam War. The Board has ordered additional development to ensure all relevant records are obtained and reviewed.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating due to the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that it likely prevents him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is severe enough to warrant a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant impairment in social and industrial adaptability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and a current VA examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder remains pending.

The Board has found that additional evidence relevant to the veteran's PTSD claim was not considered in the previous decision and remands the case for further evaluation, including consideration of new VA treatment records.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent. The RO also determined that referral to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation for an extraschedular evaluation was not warranted. As such, the claim for increased PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities remains denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his claimed stressors and verification of these events. The RO will attempt to obtain more specific details from the veteran, including dates, times, locations, units of assignment, names of others who were involved, and specifics of each event experienced.

The veteran is found to have PTSD due to in-service assault and service connection is granted.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and possibly a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and extent of his PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and need for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive neurosis claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder and residuals of a back injury, both related to combat exposure. Service connection was denied for recurrent temperature due to lack of evidence of an underlying disease or injury.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70% or 100% disability evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of alcohol abuse secondary to PTSD and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an effective date of June 22, 2000. The veteran's original claim to reopen service connection for PTSD was received on February 16, 1988.

The Board found that there is no current left hand disorder and denied the claim of service connection for a left hand disorder. The issue of service connection for PTSD was not resolved as it remains pending due to procedural confusion.

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation. The evidence received since the October 1985 decision is new and material, reopening his claim for service connection of a back disorder.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression has manifested occupational and social impairment, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are granted, with the latter being supported by credible evidence of an in-service stressor and a link between current symptoms and the stressor. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded to obtain VA treatment records.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the service-connected PTSD, effective from August 2001. The veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for asthma is not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.