PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence of the in-service stressor, and denied service connection for a headache disability as there was no medical evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for PTSD requires a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor. The appellant's reported combat experiences were not corroborated, and his assertions regarding these events are not credible.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, a bipolar disorder, and a panic disorder. The veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence of her military sexual trauma during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be established.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has found the evidence currently of record sufficient to substantiate the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, and thus grants the veteran's claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorders and PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims.

From October 12, 2000 to April 15, 2003, the veteran's PTSD caused occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,Starting from April 15, 2003, the veteran's service-connected PTSD has been manifested by severe occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is being remanded. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved, with the veteran having level III hearing acuity in each ear.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current residuals of frostbite of the feet, hypertension was diagnosed during service and is not related to service, hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown by current medical evidence, and PTSD was not diagnosed. The claim for PTSD will be remanded due to lack of verification of stressor events.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of claimed in-service stressors and additional development is needed, including verifying specific events such as the electrocution of a fellow Marine and the drowning of another Marine. The veteran should be afforded a VA psychiatric examination if any verified stressor is found.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with service connection for PTSD and TDIU, as well as a need for additional development on these matters.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by severe impairment with deficiencies in several areas, such as work, family relations, and mood, due to symptoms including difficulty maintaining effective relationships, depression, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, paranoia, and avoidance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or contributed to his death, and thus grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's appeal is for an increased rating for his left foot disability and a change in the effective date of service connection and evaluation for his psychiatric condition. The Board has remanded this case to issue a Statement of the Case on the NOD regarding the effective date.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and held that the veteran was not competent for VA purposes to manage his own affairs.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was granted, and he is now receiving a 70 percent disability rating. The TDIU claim was also granted with the effective date set at May 19, 2000.

The veteran's PTSD was productive of social and industrial impairment with reduced reliability and productivity during the period prior to October 11, 2001. The disability did not more nearly approximate deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with associated panic disorder is denied due to a lack of credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were generally granted, with some issues having specific rating assignments.