PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of the initial award of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence of his claimed in-service stressors, and because he did not engage in combat with an enemy.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been characterized by considerable impairment in establishing or maintaining effective relationships and industrial impairment, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, as well as a review of his PTSD treatment history.

The veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the lack of available service medical records. The RO or AMC will attempt to locate these records and provide notice in accordance with Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as they do not meet the criteria for more severe disability levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a bilateral foot disorder, and a low back disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The veteran did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and found that it is related to active service. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% throughout the appeal period, but the Board determined that a higher rating (70%) is warranted based on his symptoms.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed stressors and PTSD diagnosis. The veteran will be provided with notice of what type of information is needed, including alternative ways to corroborate personal assault stressors.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors. The Board found credible evidence of combat exposure, which satisfies the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify stressor incidents and obtain relevant medical records.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been primarily manifested by depression, anxiety, and irritability; frequent intrusive flashbacks; nightmares and chronic sleep disturbance; isolation and avoidance of subjects related to his WWII experience; and impaired judgment and abstract thinking productive of frequent explosive outbursts directed at family. The disability picture is best described as moderate social and occupational impairment.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The veteran has filed a timely notice of disagreement regarding the April 2003 rating decision increasing his PTSD rating to 30%. However, the appeal is currently pending and needs to be completed by filing a substantive appeal. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD manifests occupational and social impairment due to intrusive thoughts, avoidance behavior, detachment from others, sleep disturbance, anxiety, a constricted affect, and hypervigilance. The evidence shows that his symptoms are not transient and are not entirely controlled by medication, warranting an initial evaluation of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied her claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as a result of his service-connected conditions, given his work history and current employment status.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there were no verified in-service stressors. The diagnosis of PTSD is recognized but without a confirmed in-service event to link it.