PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating prior to August 31, 2004. Effective date of August 31, 2004.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the appeal for a higher evaluation has been withdrawn. The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and obtaining SSA records. The issue of service connection on a secondary basis for alcohol abuse has also been raised.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD was withdrawn before a decision could be made by the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a verified inservice stressor and thus not meeting one of the required prongs for establishing PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no verified in-service stressor and no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD for VA purposes and denied service connection for PTSD. The low back disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's stressors and determine if service connection for PTSD can be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The issues of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen claims for service connection for back disability and for psychiatric disabilities are considered in light of the VCAA.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to August 2, 2000 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran is eligible for reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred on June 12, 2007 at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital due to an emergency situation where delay would have been hazardous to his life or health. The VA facilities were not feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand was not reasonable.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by detachment, sleep impairment, suicidal ideation, severely depressed mood and anxiety, irritability, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, including work, and the inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent disabling for PTSD have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder due to a lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and PTSD. The claim for low back disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claim for PTSD was denied as there were no verified in-service stressors.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for PTSD and low back disability are denied. The appeal is not about service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD linked to a verified in-service stressor, resulting in denial of his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD was denied. The evidence did not show the required symptoms to warrant a higher rating.