PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the earlier effective dates for PTSD and cold injury residuals have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's current diagnosis is linked to his in-service stressors. The other issue of muscle and joint pain was found to be directly related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is not service-connected due to a lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of an inservice stressor.

The veteran's service connection claim for headaches was denied, as there is no credible evidence of a current headache disorder. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability claim was also denied due to the lack of evidence linking his service-connected disabilities to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and psychiatric disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The examiner opined that any current psychiatric disability is not at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of the veteran's claimed stressors. The RO must attempt to independently verify the veteran's reported in-service stressors and, if verified, obtain a VA psychiatric examination to determine whether any diagnosed PTSD is related to these stressors.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD should be December 12, 2002, as this is the date entitlement to service connection arose due to a medical diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD prior to June 11, 2008 resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,Beginning on June 11, 2008, the veteran's PTSD manifested with more severe symptoms including insomnia, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, hypervigilance, irritability, low motivation, and isolation.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD and the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD must be denied. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, was also denied as there is no competent evidence linking such disorder to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claim and for a higher rating for PTSD. The evidence received since the last denial was found to be cumulative and redundant, and did not raise the possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that an additional VA examination is necessary to determine if the veteran's PTSD diagnosis is appropriate and whether it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service stressor of falling off a ship.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of a VA examination report for his service-connected PTSD. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and an appropriate evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for PTSD should be remanded due to insufficient verification of alleged in-service stressors. The RO is instructed to attempt to verify any verified stressor and schedule a VA examination if one is found.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of combat participation and the claimed stressors have not been corroborated. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if there is sufficient evidence to establish service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to grant service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claims for residuals of shell fragment wounds and peripheral vascular disease remain under consideration.

The Board finds that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, manifested while he was on active duty and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, and PTSD. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and did not reopen the claims for service connection for deviation of the left ureter and hematuria with abdominal pain, arthritis of the back with chronic lumbar syndrome, and diverticulitis.

The Board has remanded the case to the agency of original jurisdiction for further action, including rescheduling a Travel Board hearing at the local RO after clarification of the appropriate agency of local jurisdiction.