PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service and is not related to any in-service stressor. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The Board has ordered the RO to obtain and associate with the claims file all treatment records from Drs. Oetter and Weidershein since 1974, and from Dr. Malik since September 2003. They are also asked to contact the SSA for any relevant documents.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of a personal assault during her active military duty.

The veteran's skin cancer is found to be incurred in active military service. Service connection for PTSD as secondary to the service connected tonsillectomy is denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation beyond 50 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant a rating of 70 percent or above.

The Board has remanded the veteran's appeal due to insufficient details provided regarding his claimed stressors. The case is now pending for further development and readjudication.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was presented to reopen the veteran's claim for PTSD. The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective since March 20, 2003. Prior to that date, the veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent.

The evidence does not show that the veteran's PTSD results in significant impairment of work and social relationships, warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD related to his military service and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions and denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, but the claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and need clarification on the diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. For the period from April 6, 2001 to August 30, 2004, he received a 10 percent evaluation for PTSD, which was deemed insufficiently disabling. For the period commencing on August 31, 2004, his PTSD symptoms were considered moderate but did not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have PTSD, and thus his claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The veteran's PTSD is primarily manifested by mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety, feelings of anger; chronic sleep disturbances; difficulty with social interaction; lack of concentration; and increasing social isolation resulting in severe but less than total social and occupational impairment.,The criteria for a disability evaluation of 70 percent were met from the date of claim for service connection PTSD. The criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent have not been met at any time.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that entitlement to TDIU was factually ascertainable as of November 1, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the veteran's treatment at the Vet Center and verifying his in-service stressors. The veteran is to be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD due to verified in-service stressor.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 10 percent prior to February 9, 2004 and at 30 percent as of that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for either period.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches, and fatigue were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a clear diagnosis of PTSD based on a link between in-service stressors and current symptomatology.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and psychiatric condition were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The PTSD claim was also denied due to lack of verified stressors.