PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as the earliest possible effective date is the date of receipt of his request to reopen the previously denied claim, which was May 7, 1997.

The veteran's PTSD has caused no more than an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks during the period from December 7, 1995 to September 10, 2003. During the period from September 11, 2003 to August 2, 2005, his PTSD has caused no more than reduced reliability and productivity, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The veteran's PTSD has been manifested by complaints of intrusive thoughts, depression, hypervigilance, anxiety, panic attacks not more than weekly, and sleep impairment, productive of no more than occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is not shown to be more than moderately disabling, and an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent is not warranted.

The veteran does not have PTSD related to his military service.

The appeal regarding the reopening of a claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded to the RO/AMC for further development and adjudication.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened based on new and material evidence, but the issue remains pending as it has not been adjudicated on its merits.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the appellant with a VCAA notice letter.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of any current psychiatric condition, including PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a stab wound scar of the right posterior thorax, and an earlier effective date for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records identified by the veteran.

The veteran is unemployable as a result of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lower back disability.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by substantial impairment in the ability to establish or maintain effective or favorable relationships with people, but not by serious or severe impairment in such ability, by at least severe or pronounced impairment in the ability to obtain or retain employment, by virtual isolation in the community, by totally incapacitating psychoneurotic symptoms, by total occupational impairment, or by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity or deficiencies in most areas. The Board finds that a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD is warranted.

The Board grants service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the veteran's favor.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities.

The appeal is remanded for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's PTSD has been manifested by complaints of nightmares, impaired sleep, flashbacks, irritability, lack of motivation, exaggerated startle response, and hypervigilance; objectively, productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, with Global Assessment of Functioning scores indicating mild to moderate symptoms upon VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as there was no credible evidence that his claimed in-service stressor occurred and no medical evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board.