PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran was exposed to a stressor in service and whether he meets the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and that the stressor event did not result in a psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the veteran did not have combat duty and his alleged in-service stressor has not been corroborated by official records or any other supportive evidence, thus denying service connection for PTSD.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied.

Service connection for PTSD was granted effective July 18, 2000 with a current evaluation of 50 percent.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by nightmares and flashbacks, with no evidence of panic attacks, memory impairment or impaired thinking. The assigned rating reflects the severity of his condition.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia with PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment due to persistent hallucinations, paranoia, suicidal ideation, and difficulty functioning.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as there is sufficient evidence to link his current diagnosis of PTSD to his in-service stressors.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to August 8, 2002. From that date, the evidence does not show impairment beyond what is contemplated by a 70 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased PTSD and TDIU were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or a link between his military service and these conditions.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD was denied. The RO awarded a 50 percent rating, effective from August 16, 1994, but the Board is remanding this issue to consider the applicability of old rating criteria prior to November 7, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not show that he engaged in combat with the enemy and his claimed stressors were unverified. No current diagnosed psychiatric disability was related to service.

The veteran's appeal involves claims for PTSD and a herniated disc, including seeking an earlier effective date for service connection and increased disability ratings. The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed service connection for PTSD could not be granted due to a lack of verified stressors, and thus denied the claim. The issue of major depression was also denied as there were no verified stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records. The claims of service connection for PTSD and a skin condition are being considered as new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of the veteran's reported inservice stressor event involving an accident with a vehicle that resulted in the drowning of six servicemen. The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD related to this incident.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressor. Service connection was also not granted for headaches, low back pain, and gynecological disorders.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because the evidence did not establish that he engaged in combat and his claimed stressors were unverified. The TDIU claim was also denied as the veteran is currently receiving a 100% schedular evaluation for prostate cancer, which precludes him from being eligible for a TDIU.