PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not caused by her active military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a Board hearing at the RO and readjudicating his claim.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD effective from March 23, 2006. The veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for PTSD, which was granted in April 2003. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the severity of his PTSD at the time of his initial claim in June 2000.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to new evidence submitted, but further development is needed to determine if a current diagnosis relates to an in-service stressor.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 30 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining SSA records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has ordered further development due to incomplete stressor verification and requests for additional information from the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left side of body, and residuals of a cerebral vascular accident due to lack of verified in-service stressors and no current disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him helpless or so nearly helpless as to require regular aid and attendance. The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's in-service stressors and a need for further examination. The veteran is requested to provide details of any stressful events during service, which will be verified by the U.S. Army Joint Service Records Research Center (JSRRC).

The Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that it results in substantial occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a stroke was dismissed due to withdrawal. The claim for reopening the knee disability was granted, and he is now entitled to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed PTSD is reasonably the result of his combat service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not result in severe impairment. The VA has granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent disability rating, effective September 30, 2004. The veteran's PTSD has caused occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on April 21, 2004 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating greater than 30 percent.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to November 4, 2004. From that date, his PTSD is rated as 30 percent disabling.

The veteran's death was due to sepsis, and he had a long history of psychiatric symptoms. The RO's November 4, 1986 decision failed to assign a 100% rating as of July 1, 1986, which the Board found to be clear and unmistakable error. As a result, the veteran was continuously rated totally disabling for more than 10 years prior to his death, meeting the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the appellant's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, as his alleged stressors did not occur during combat duty and were not verified for VA purposes.