PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 21, 2002. However, the symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of a claimed in-service stressor and for further examination to determine if PTSD is present.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and PTE substantially contributed to his death, resulting in a left hip fracture which was listed as a contributory cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled video-conference hearing. He will be provided with another opportunity for a hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed stressors during service were not verified and denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for an increased rating of PTSD to 50 percent, effective April 25, 2002. The Veteran also filed a substantive appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD as of March 26, 2008. Prior to this date, the evidence did not demonstrate that he was totally unemployable solely as a result of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to attempt to verify in-service stressors for PTSD and determine if service connection can be granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain his VA medical center records. The Veteran must provide additional details about his service-related stressors, including those involving sexual assault and witnessing soldiers attack a woman in a sergeant's quarters.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The issue regarding a timely notice of disagreement on the TMJ claim was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of service-connected PTSD, cognitive disorder not otherwise specified, and major depressive disorder to include as due to traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by a total occupational and social impairment with symptoms including impairment in reality testing to include a danger of hurting others, past episodes of severe suicidal ideation representing a danger to himself because of dissociative episodes, and disorientation to time and place during dissociative episodes. The criteria for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD from January 30, 2002, to April 19, 2006, have been met.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial evaluation of PTSD prior to May 27, 2009, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left ankle fracture have rendered him unable to work, effective from August 7, 1997. As a result, he is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current medical diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for additional development, including obtaining complete service personnel records and verifying any claimed in-service stressful experiences. The Veteran is scheduled for a VA PTSD examination if one or more stressors are verified.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for an additional examination addressing his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period, effective from the date of the decision.