PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 2003 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, based on a Notice of Disagreement filed in August 2003.

The Board remands the case for further evidentiary development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and SSA records.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent due to symptoms including nightmares, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, social isolation, auditory hallucinations, depression, lack of interests in activities, suicidal ideation, flashbacks, panic attacks, irritability, sleep impairment, and anxiousness.

The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The veteran's PTSD has been shown to result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, reported panic attacks, impaired long-term memory, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for PTSD to verify a claimed in-service stressor and obtain additional evidence.

The veteran's PTSD did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to November 18, 1997, and the effective date for a 70 percent evaluation was also denied. Additionally, total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was not shown prior to that date.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no credible medical diagnosis of this condition in the record.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis and a prostate disorder, finding no evidence of these conditions during service or within the presumptive period, and no medical evidence linking them to service. The veteran's claim for PTSD was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD but denied service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD and a skin disability.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) as there is no evidence of such disability during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and no competent medical evidence linking any current psychiatric disorder to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to a lack of credible evidence supporting his claimed in-service stressors.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a 50 percent evaluation, but his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension were denied.

The veteran's service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was granted based on his combat experience and the medical evidence linking his current symptoms to in-service stressors.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for alcohol abuse was denied due to it being a result of his own willful misconduct, including abuse of alcohol or drugs.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been manifested by no more than overall moderate symptoms, and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent is not warranted.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, poor sleep, poor appetite, frequent nightmares, and some suicidal ideation.

The Board found that the reduction in the veteran's rating for residuals of cancer of the larynx was not proper, but did not restore the 100 percent evaluation. The claim to reopen service connection for PTSD was granted.