PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50% disability rating, which is the maximum assigned for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for a current VA psychiatric rating examination. The RO must obtain all relevant medical records, including outpatient treatment from the Grand Island VA clinic and Lincoln Vet Center. A comprehensive VA psychiatric examination should be conducted to determine the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board found that the appellant's current back, hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service. The psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence linking any diagnosed psychiatric disorder to service. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, concluding that there was no link between his current psychiatric diagnoses and his period of active duty. The BVA found that the stressors he alleged to be the cause of his problems were inadequate for meeting the basic criteria for PTSD as contained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Edition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is reasonably attributable to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his military service, and thus denied this claim.,However, the veteran was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of in-service stressors, which were found to be consistent with combat experience. The claim for PTSD was granted.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his PTSD, finding that the symptoms he presented did not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria provided.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review of all pertinent evidence, including SSA records. The veteran's PTSD claim is on appeal, as well as his request for a higher evaluation for his right tibia disability.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, but denied the claim on the merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected. The cervical spine disability is also found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD resulted in moderate to severe social and occupational impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of total occupational or social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there is no credible evidence of a sufficient stressor to support a diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's claimed stressors for PTSD and to determine if he was exposed to asbestos. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a higher initial evaluation from the current 30 percent.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence supports reopening his previously denied claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to the need to verify the veteran's reported stressors and obtain unit records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be decided without additional development, as there is insufficient evidence to verify a claimed inservice stressor.