PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent from November 8, 1994. The rating has been increased to 70 percent effective July 27, 1998, and to 100 percent effective January 4, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication, including consideration of staged ratings for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, but finds that there is insufficient credible supporting evidence to substantiate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor of sexual assault. As a result, the acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims for service connection of a low back disorder, PTSD, and depression. The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to post-service injuries rather than her military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected knee, neck, back, and PTSD disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations did not adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for a Video Conference hearing and further development as requested. The issues include reopening of PTSD service connection, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, antral gastritis, limitation of flexion/extension of left knee, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and fracture to navicular bone.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was granted, and he is now receiving the maximum schedular rating. The effective date of service connection for PTSD has been set at December 14, 2001.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his PTSD claim, including obtaining recent treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was denied. The VA compensation examiner determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD based on his symptoms and history.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation; nearly continuous panic or depression affecting his ability to function independently, appropriately, and effectively; impaired impulse control, such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a work-like setting; and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The Veteran is now assigned a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that there is credible supporting evidence of a military sexual trauma stressor and a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied as the March 2004 rating decision, which assigned the initial effective date of December 23, 2003, was final.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from March 20, 2009. The earlier effective date of February 2005 for prostate cancer and its residuals is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence to support service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's right thigh scar was granted service connection but with a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is being reviewed to determine if it contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death from a myocardial infarction. The DIC claim based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions is also under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from October 23, 2007 to June 19, 2008.