PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and potential service connection issues.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and a low back injury, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of in-service combat exposure or verified stressors. The appellant's diagnoses were also deemed unreliable due to unsubstantiated stressor reports.

The Board has granted service connection for acne and eczema, but denied service connection for hormonal imbalance, menstrual irregularity, depression, PTSD, and the effective dates for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. The veteran's claims are remanded to determine appropriate effective dates.

The veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to his active service, but he has arthritis of the right hand that may be secondary to a service-connected fracture. His neck and back conditions are not shown during or after service, and hypertension is likely due to PTSD.,An additional VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to an injury sustained in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to his service in Vietnam and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical evidence regarding a diagnosis of PTSD, incomplete verification of stressor events in service, and need for additional examination.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to May 1, 2005. From May 1, 2005, the veteran does not have any symptoms related to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is incurred or aggravated during service and grants her claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted at a 50% rating, effective from the date of the May 2002 rating decision. The bilateral hearing loss disability claim remains pending.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and ocular myasthenia gravis due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new VA examination.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's reported combat stressors in Vietnam are sufficient to establish service connection for PTSD, and thus grants the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that it more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication due to a failure to provide proper notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claim is currently pending and will be reconsidered after obtaining any additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action consistent with a joint motion of the parties.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD warranted a 100% disability rating for the period prior to February 18, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder, but denied service connection for PTSD. The appellant's anxiety disorder is presumed to have been present since his military service.