PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a claimed in-service stressor for PTSD. The veteran served in Vietnam and had a diagnosis of PTSD, but there is no verification of the specific stressful event he experienced during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that his service-connected disabilities increased in severity to warrant such a rating at any point between April 14, 2002 and April 13, 2003.

The veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The VA has assigned a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and additional records.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed PTSD did not exist and there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor. As a result, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 28, 1994 for service connection for PTSD was dismissed as the March 2000 rating decision is final.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence corroborating his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and a thoracic spine disability due to issues regarding the in-service stressor allegations. The case is being returned to the RO/AMC for additional development, including obtaining corroborating evidence from sources other than his service records.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there was no credible supporting evidence for his claimed stressors. The diagnosis of PTSD is based solely on the veteran's account, which does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The VA determined that there is no credible evidence to support the veteran's claimed in-service stressors or a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied, but new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim. The hiatal hernia with GERD issue remains pending and requires additional development.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the veteran's claimed stressors for PTSD and obtain his VA treatment records. The case will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The veteran seeks an increased evaluation for PTSD, but the RO has not provided a current assessment of his condition due to insufficient recent medical evidence. The case is being remanded to provide such an examination.

The veteran's chronic headaches and psychiatric disability (PTSD) were not incurred or aggravated by active duty. The Board denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction with PTSD warrants a rating of 50 percent, effective from September 9, 2004.

The veteran's PTSD has been shown to result in a level of social and occupational impairment beyond that contemplated by the currently assigned 50 percent evaluation, which is reflected in multiple assignments of a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score of 50. The Board finds that an increase in disability for the service-connected PTSD cannot be factually ascertained after August 6, 2003, the year prior to the date of the receipt of the claim on August 6, 2004, and before January 28, 2004. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence. However, the claim for bilateral knee replacements was denied as there is no credible evidence linking the veteran's current knee disorders to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verifying in-service stressors and obtaining service personnel records. The veteran's claim for PTSD will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by a depressed mood, difficulty with concentration, sleep disturbances, and an inability to establish effective relationships. With resolution of reasonable doubt in the veteran's favor, the criteria for an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD have been met.

The veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD due to service or a pre-existing mental health condition that could have been aggravated by service. Therefore, her claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.