PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain his complete medical records from VA facilities.

The VA determined that the appellant does not have post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's PTSD and left ear hearing loss disability are both found to be service-connected due to credible evidence of exposure during combat in Vietnam. The factual presumption is applied as the veteran engaged in combat, which allows for a finding of service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a new VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and links it to in-service stressors.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 50 percent, which is higher than his current evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent, as his symptoms do not interfere with occupational and social functioning to such an extent.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's reported stressors were not credible and there was no corroboration or verification. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation, reflecting considerable impairment in his ability to establish or maintain effective relationships with people.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his skin disorder is attributable to a known clinical diagnosis and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claims for PTSD and a skin disorder are denied.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 9, 1997, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the veteran has submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in October 1999.

The veteran seeks an increased evaluation for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. The case is being remanded to the RO due to incomplete development and notification requirements.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is denied as there was no prior claim within one year following his discharge from service, and he did not file a claim before April 27, 2000.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective April 1, 2003, and he received a TDIU rating as of that date.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of PTSD, a right forearm injury, and fainting spells prior to the Board's decision. The only remaining issue is the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for mixed personality disorder. The claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD, and glaucoma is denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions and they are not related to service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has not resulted in symptomatology that more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short-term and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; or difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran did not have current PTSD as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.