PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board granted earlier effective dates for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD and for a TDIU rating, both effective November 21, 1996. The case was remanded to obtain medical records and readjudicate the claim for an increased rating for bronchitis.

The veteran does not have PTSD that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for the veteran's PTSD, but found that a higher rating was not warranted.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, excess absenteeism, and symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, mild memory loss, and a global assessment of function (GAF) score of 65 to 70 representative of some mild symptoms. The criteria for entitlement to a disability evaluation of 30 percent, but no higher, for the veteran's service-connected PTSD have been met.

The VA has remanded the case due to incomplete records and additional development is needed.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and an anxiety disorder with phobias and depression. The RO has remanded the case to verify specific stressful events during his military service.

The veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to December 7, 2000, for a 70 percent evaluation of PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD. However, due to a lack of verified in-service stressors, the claim cannot be substantiated.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability resulted in total occupational impairment from June 12, 2000. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder with panic attacks effective from that date.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his service-connected disabilities did not materially contribute to his death. The appellant is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent disability rating, effective February 26, 2003. The veteran's condition includes symptoms such as reexperiencing traumatic events in service, avoidance of stimuli associated with these events, feelings of detachment from others, increased arousal, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and outbursts of anger.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is incurred in active service, with a valid in-service stressor involving exposure to enemy fire and combat.

The Board has found that there is a further VA duty to assist the veteran in developing evidence pertinent to her claim for service connection for PTSD. The appeal is remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board found that the veteran did not have combat duty and his alleged in-service stressors were not corroborated by official records or any other supportive evidence. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is not warranted.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities prior to February 24, 1998 was denied. The effective date of the TDIU award is set at February 24, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for urethritis, PTSD, and a pulmonary disorder. The case is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of current PTSD, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for PTSD because there was no credible evidence to support the occurrence of the in-service stressor, and the veteran's reported symptoms did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and PTSD, finding no evidence of in-service stressors supporting PTSD or exposure to herbicides related to prostate cancer.