PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50% since January 1, 2005. The disability has resulted in reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect and difficulty maintaining effective relationships.

The veteran had PTSD as of November 2, 1994 and is entitled to an effective date prior to December 29, 1998 for the grant of service connection.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive evaluation of his PTSD and VCAA notification issues.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50% evaluation effective January 27, 2005. The veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's nonservice-connected erectile dysfunction was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including medications for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes and residuals of a left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the veteran has PTSD due to a verified in-service stressor, namely the weapon discharge incident. The veteran's service records do not reflect combat involvement.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and reopened the claim for major depressive disorder, finding that new evidence supports a link to in-service sexual assault.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. As a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tendonitis of the right wrist or PTSD related to his military service and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was denied, as the evidence did not support a higher rating. The claims for service connection of IBS and heart disease were also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of mental health treatment and arranging for a VA psychiatrist to provide an opinion on whether the veteran's suicide was causally related to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as it does not cause 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 the veteran's PTSD, finding that his symptoms warranted such a rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not cause significant impairment, warranting a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension. For PTSD, the claim was denied due to a lack of verified in-service stressors. For hypertension, no diagnosis was provided by VA medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD and fracture of the humerus did not cause or contribute to his death from cardiac and pulmonary failure. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's TDIU was not shown to be warranted prior to May 8, 2003. The earliest date of entitlement is therefore May 8, 2003.