PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 30 percent effective October 21, 1997. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his psychiatric disability or any other service-connected condition to his death from renal carcinoma.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for further development due to the need to verify an in-service stressor related to PTSD and to consider whether the verified stressor is sufficient to produce post-traumatic stress disorder.

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

For the period July 26, 2001 to January 11, 2004, the veteran's PTSD was manifested by depression, anxiety, panic attacks, fear of public, social withdrawal, nervousness, and middle insomnia.,For the period January 12, 2004 to March 7, 2004, the veteran's PTSD was manifested by visual and auditory hallucinations, nervousness, anxiety, paranoia, poor judgment and insight, some delusional thinking, and looseness of association. The veteran also had visual and auditory hallucinations.,The veteran's PTSD symptoms worsened significantly from July 26, 2001 to March 7, 2004.

The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was received on October 22, 2001. The VA outpatient treatment records and the vocational rehabilitation folder do not show any treatment or diagnosis of a service-connected condition prior to this date that would have rendered the veteran unemployable.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD. The reopened claim will now be reviewed on its merits.

The veteran's request for service connection for PTSD is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board Hearing.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is also remanded to determine if hepatitis C is related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for injury to low back with degenerative joint disease, postoperative, and PTSD due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not suffer from PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), hair loss, skin rashes, right shoulder pain, psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sinusitis. The decision was based on a finding that there is no medical evidence indicating the veteran has these conditions or their symptoms.

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 all relevant VA medical records and scheduling him for another VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found no evidence of a verified in-service stressor for PTSD, and the VA examiner did not diagnose PTSD. The veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to credible evidence linking his symptoms to his military service, including combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the veteran's tailbone injury or hepatitis, and denied service connection for these conditions. The claim for loss of wisdom teeth was also denied as there is no indication that the veteran has any current residuals from having her wisdom teeth removed during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any residuals of a head injury, left clavicle fracture, frostbite of hands and feet, right or left little finger injury, and back pain/spine condition. The veteran's medical records from Dr. J. A. Nilsen should also be obtained.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and for compensable ratings for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right forearm and multiple superficial retained shell fragments, involving the skull, eyes, knees, thoracic spine, and left arm and wrist.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD symptoms, while significant, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent. The veteran's condition was characterized by reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, difficulty understanding complex commands, and impaired judgment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and verifying claimed stressors. The veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD remains in dispute.