PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The veteran is seeking a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected PTSD. The case has been remanded due to the need for an additional VA psychiatric examination and consideration of all available evidence.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available for this condition. The right foot hallux valgus is not compensable under VA rating criteria, and the left foot hallux valgus is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation.

The VA examiners have found that the veteran does not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, and thus service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is directly caused by his military service and grants service connection for PTSD. The stomach disorder claim will be remanded to further develop evidence regarding its secondary relationship to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of dependent spouse care and arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's bipolar disorder.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at Jane Phillips Medical Center on December 28, 2003 is denied as the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency and did not meet other criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verifying a reported stressor involving the death of G.A. and determining whether the veteran's PTSD diagnosis is related to this verified in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor and concluding that the veteran did not engage in combat. The diagnosis of PTSD is based on a verified stressor which has not been established.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of the veteran's PTSD and its impact on his daily life. The RO should consider staged ratings if warranted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability is being remanded. The Board has styled the claim of increase as an initial rating higher than 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder before June 14, 2004, and an initial rating higher than 70 percent from that date.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran is entitled to payment of disability compensation at the 100 percent rate for the period from March 12, 2003, to June 30, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to inconsistent accounts of an in-service personal assault and lack of corroborating evidence. The issue of increased rating for right knee chondromalacia is remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied, but the claim for chloracne as secondary to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) was granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, concluding that there is no credible evidence supporting her account of a personal assault during military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to establish whether the veteran's PTSD is service-connected, including obtaining records of his military activities and a comprehensive psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's seborrheic dermatitis is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection. The PTSD evaluation remains unchanged as there was no evidence of worsening since the last rating decision.