PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it meets the criteria for service connection based on his combat experience and diagnosed PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and concluded that his symptoms are better explained by schizoaffective disorder, thus denying service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the total rating on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was denied. The effective date remains December 2, 2002.

From June 4, 2004 to prior to March 3, 2009, the Veteran's PTSD was manifested by impairment in most of the areas of work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores ranging from 30 to the mid 60s and indicative of mild to serious disability.,Since March 3, 2009, the Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by near total occupational and social impairment with a GAF score of 42.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and conflicting medical opinions regarding whether he has PTSD.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is associated with a reported stressor that occurred during his period of active military service, and the Board finds this to be related to his service. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance has been granted due to his service-connected disabilities that make him unable to care for himself or protect himself from daily hazards.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by passive suicidal ideation and impaired impulse control, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and social isolation. However, it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms do not include gross impairment in thought process or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded it for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further examination and development of evidence, including obtaining private mental health treatment records from her mother's counselor and a therapist named J.G.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and gynecological condition. The Veteran's claims are also being reviewed for potential service connection based on new evidence.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is manifested by symptoms such as nightmares, intrusive recollections, sleep disturbance, flashbacks, anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, social isolation, difficulty concentrating, and physiological reactivity. The Board has determined that the criteria for an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD have been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD to be reopened. Further development is needed to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and determine if he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% from January 16, 1984 through April 5, 1992 and the Board has now granted a 100% rating for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and a skin disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression (claimed as secondary to PTSD), and a stomach disorder (claimed as secondary to PTSD). The evidence did not establish that the Veteran had current diagnoses of these conditions or that they were related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, concluding that the Veteran's current symptoms did not meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD based on verified stressors he experienced in service, and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and the diagnosis is based on a post-service work accident.