PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation effective March 3, 2003. The veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD effective from August 3, 2002. The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent from March 22, 1997 to August 2, 2002 was previously denied.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of incapacitating symptoms resulting in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating since the date of claim.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective October 1, 1998. The rating reflects considerable impairment of social and industrial adaptability.

The veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 70 percent, and his TDIU claim is also denied.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive VA examination and further development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed stressors and a need for further examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no verified in-service stressor and his diagnosis of PTSD first occurred many years after service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and found no evidence of a current disability related to military service. The claim for an increased rating for lumbodorsal strain from January 4, 2000 to September 25, 2003 was also denied.

The veteran's PTSD was manifested by occasional memory flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts with mild to moderate psychiatric impairment during the period from August 21, 1998 to November 30, 2000. For the period from December 1, 2000 to September 12, 2002, his PTSD was characterized by persistent memory flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, depression, anhedonia, anxiety, impaired concentration, and social isolation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed PTSD is not service-connected as there is no credible evidence of in-service stressors, and therefore denied the claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as she did not engage in combat with the enemy and does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Lakeland Regional Medical Center on March 3, 2000 were denied as he did not meet the criteria for payment under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and granted nonservice-connected pension with an effective date of July 13, 2000. The decision also noted that assuming the veteran's claim was pending since July 17, 1996, his disabilities did not meet the criteria for a retroactive award of nonservice-connected pension.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and ensuring compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 5, 2001 for the grant of a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD. The veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been found to result in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for calcified granuloma (claimed as a result of exposure to asbestos) and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify in-service stressors and determine if the veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess whether his condition warrants a higher rating.