PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing medical records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence received after previous SSOCs.

The VA denied an initial rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms warranted a 30 percent disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining evidence related to in-service stressors and PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including service connection and requests to reopen. The SMC claim will be reconsidered after these issues are resolved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The VA examiner noted the veteran's symptoms of frequent nightmares, persistent difficulty concentrating, and avoidance behaviors.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depression and found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in a June 1997 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD. The veteran's current depression is manifested by inability to work, near-continuous depression, hostility, irritability, anger, some memory impairment, and the need for ongoing therapy sessions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records, including Worker's Compensation claims. The veteran is also asked to provide new evidence to reopen his claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's PTSD, which is at the highest level of disability assigned under the VA rating schedule.

The Board has granted a higher 50 percent disability rating for PTSD, but denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for PTSD and a heart condition due to potential issues with service connection based on new evidence, as well as concerns about secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to April 4, 2000 for service connection of PTSD and a disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD on April 4, 2000 with a 30% initial evaluation.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a higher rating than 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of March 24, 1998 for service connection of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Board found that no claim was filed prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the veteran's service-connected PTSD and herpes-related skin disorder.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318(b) is denied as the veteran did not meet the criteria for entitlement to such benefits.

The case is being remanded for further development due to new evidence received after the September 2005 Supplemental Statement of the Case.