PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service stressors and combat involvement.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a diagnosed condition of PTSD and there was no evidence linking his current symptoms to an in-service stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to an in-service stressor involving seeing a village hit with artillery fired from the USS New Jersey during convoy operations. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and his claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, concluding that the veteran does not have this condition and instead has schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and a new examination. The issue remains whether he should receive an evaluation higher than 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that it results in total occupational impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 26, 2002 for the award of nonservice-connected disability pension benefits (NSC pension) due to lack of evidence showing he was unemployable prior to June 15, 1998.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD, denied service connection for the motor vehicle accident residuals as secondary to PTSD, and granted service connection for a skin condition due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran meets the criteria for a current diagnosis of PTSD, which is linked to in-service stressors. As such, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not engage in combat and there is no credible supporting evidence of a verified inservice stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the validity of his PTSD claim and the current severity of his right elbow disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for PTSD, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board finds that the veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 70 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective as of the date of the decision. The veteran is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development of the record, including obtaining service medical records and any relevant treatment records from Drs. Lanthorn, Riaz, and Carr. The veteran is also required to provide information about unreimbursed medical expenses from 2000 onwards. A VA psychiatric examination will be conducted to determine the etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from October 6, 1998 to October 31, 2001 and at 50 percent since November 1, 2001. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.