PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to April 20, 2009. The rating was increased to 70 percent effective from April 20, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as her claimed stressors could not be verified and there is no credible supporting evidence of the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to provide specific dates, names, and locations relative to any claimed stressors. An attempt should be made to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors through the appropriate channels. A VA psychiatric examination is also required.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder and PTSD due to incomplete records, need for VA examinations, and potential issues with pyramiding.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective November 22, 2006. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating but noted that referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD or hypertension that was incurred in, aggravated by, or related to his service. The claim for PTSD is denied as there is no verified stressor and the claim for hypertension is denied due to lack of a link between the condition and any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and right wrist disability, as well as his requests for higher initial ratings for retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee, bilateral shin splints, and thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to notification errors and the need for a Travel Board hearing at the San Diego RO.

The Veteran's claimed in-service sexual assault stressor is not credible, and there is no evidence of any service-connected psychiatric injury or disease. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy at a 100 percent rating effective May 31, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying stressors and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is linked to an in-service stressor, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining VA treatment records from 1993 to the present, and then readjudicating the Veteran's claims on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination. The claim for PTSD will be evaluated under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(4) (2009), which addresses claims based on personal assault allegations.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD and irritable bowel syndrome, with the latter receiving a rating of 10 percent.,PTSD is associated with stressful experiences during convoy operations in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in severe difficulties both socially and occupationally, including impaired impulse control from anger outbursts, the inability to adapt to stressful circumstances such as a work-like setting, and the inability to establish effective relationships. The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 17, 2009. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 19, 2001 for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been granted. The RO assigned a new effective date based on the merits of the case.