PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims of increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The veteran was not granted service connection for a headache condition, hypertension, low back disability, cervical spine disability, shoulder disability, or left ear hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and compliance with VCAA provisions.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, and PTSD. The appeal is remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for further verification of his National Guard service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected PTSD. The RO has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The VA has ordered the case to be remanded due to the need for a new examination as the last one was nearly three years ago and the veteran argues that his symptoms have worsened.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired short- and long-term memory, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to a beating during basic training. The VA examiner determined that the veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD and instead had symptoms consistent with generalized anxiety disorder. For his scar, the Board noted that the veteran's disability is rated based on limitation of function rather than a separate rating code.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be granted as he did not engage in combat and there is no credible supporting evidence of a stressor. The veteran was denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the veracity of his claimed stressors and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD due to service, and his hypertension and skin conditions are not shown to be related to service. The appeal is denied for all issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD and found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the October 1994 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD. The case is now remanded to obtain an examination of the veteran's PTSD.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, but concluded that there was no competent medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of PTSD or a link between any in-service stressor and the veteran's current mental state.

The veteran's PTSD was productive of suicide attempts and multiple hospitalizations, warranting a 70 percent evaluation for the period beginning on June 17, 2004.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his symptoms do not warrant an increase to a rating above 50 percent.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and a new VA examination. The case will be re-adjudicated after these steps are completed.

The VA is remanding the case to obtain SSA records and provide corrective VCAA notice regarding effective date for the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and denied secondary service connection for a depressive disorder as related to the veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for a medical opinion regarding the veteran's depression claim. The issues of PTSD and hepatitis C are also pending.