PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a 100% evaluation prior to September 21, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD prior to September 17, 2003. The effective date for TDIU benefits is set at September 17, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not originate in service and there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his reported stressors. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, joint pain, muscle twitching, chemical sensitivity, abdominal pain, and tingling in the extremities, all of which are claimed as due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The case is being remanded for additional development of medical records and examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and PTSD, as well as to assess their current severity.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The RO also granted a TDIU based on his unemployability due to PTSD and related conditions.

The veteran's PTSD was manifested by a supportive family social network and employment with only occasional difficulties from May 3, 2001 to June 30, 2006.,For the period beginning June 30, 2006, service-connected PTSD is manifested by difficulty in reality testing under stress with occupational and social impairment due to deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed PTSD is not service-connected as there is insufficient evidence to verify his reported stressor and he did not engage in combat.

The veteran's PTSD has been manifested by reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depression, anxiety, nightmares, avoidance of social situations, and difficulty in maintaining work relationships. The Board finds that these symptoms more nearly approximate a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 7, 2000 for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's PTSD with anxiety reaction does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity or deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.

The veteran seeks service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities including PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder. The Board has determined that the matter requires further development to verify in-service stressors and obtain clarification of the nature of her psychiatric symptoms during service.

The VA Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the veteran's PTSD, effective from the date of service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hypertension due to potential verification of in-service stressors. The veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination if an in-service stressor is verified.

The VA determined that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the veteran did not provide sufficient information to establish a stressor related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of December 3, 2002 for the 30 percent evaluation for PTSD and a TDIU rating. The effective dates are based on factual ascertainability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining the veteran's service personnel records and arranging a VA psychiatric examination. The claims for PTSD, back disorder, and right shoulder disorder will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded to obtain further development, including verification of combat exposure and confirmation of claimed in-service stressors.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms do not significantly impair his occupational and social functioning.