PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and a 50 percent rating was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 70 percent rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to warrant a 70% disability evaluation effective July 28, 2005. The claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since February 8, 2006. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a 50 percent rating for his PTSD symptoms from the date of initial treatment and loss of employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, including difficulty with interpersonal stressors at work and social isolation. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since May 21, 2007. The claim for service connection of other conditions (blood disorder, liver disorder, Hepatitis C, asbestosis, lung disorder, and kidney cancer) was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, nightmares, memory impairment, irritability, anger and emotional numbing. The Board finds that the criteria for an increased disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD have been met.

The Board found that there is no preponderance of evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran was not granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence regarding her allegations of sexual assault during National Guard duty in January 1984.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of the claimed stressors occurring during his active duty.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence to corroborate the Veteran's claimed sexual assaults during service, and thus denied her claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection as it is linked to in-service stressors, including witnessing the drowning of a Sergeant Williams during his service in Panama.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a proper diagnosis and credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, left ankle, right ankle disabilities, degenerative osteophytosis of the lumbar spine, and COPD were also addressed.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death while the case was pending before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in his PTSD rating is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a VA examination.

The VA determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's PTSD to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for PTSD and right arm shrapnel wound residuals, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The claim for a left thigh scar was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by total occupational and social impairment due to severe symptoms such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent danger of hurting self or others, and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from October 29, 2004 to December 16, 2005 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for this period.