PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed stressors and need for further development of his service records.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the nature of the veteran's current psychiatric disorder and because the claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder are inextricably intertwined. The claim will be reviewed under all appropriate statutory and regulatory provisions.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD, effective from May 8, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a confirmed stressor in service which would support a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder or an opinion that any other psychiatric disorder was caused or aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to new evidence submitted. The PTSD claim is remanded as there is insufficient evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA medical records related to a PTSD coping skills group from Dallas VAMC. The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for compliance with instructions in the Secretary's Motion, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a higher disability rating than 30 percent.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for alcoholism (alcohol dependence in remission) secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability related to service, including PTSD. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and entitlement to TDIU were denied as the veteran does not have any current psychiatric disability, with all previous diagnoses being misdiagnoses. The claim for PTSD was remanded but ultimately denied.

The veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and initial evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining missing treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, mood disorder, and PTSD, are related to military sexual trauma during service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for post-operative left knee replacement due to lack of verified in-service stressors and insufficient evidence to support the claim.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 100% evaluation for PTSD should be July 22, 2002, as it is factually ascertainable that the veteran's PTSD had increased in severity by then.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD does not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus denying an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and disability due to Agent Orange exposure, finding no competent evidence of current diagnoses or a link between his claimed conditions and service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected PTSD, finding that his symptoms have been manifested by moderate symptoms such as anxiety, depression, irritability, difficulty with crowds, flashbacks, and nightmares.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the veteran's current symptoms and his in-service stressors. The veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his military service.