PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as his symptoms are linked to an in-service stressor involving exposure to dead bodies.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a VA examination. A new examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to warrant a 50 percent disability rating, effective the date of claim. The Board also granted TDIU as of February 4, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further development and re-adjudication due to issues with the classification of the issues on appeal, including verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a rescheduled hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, and hepatitis B. The claim for increased ratings for residuals of a head injury was also denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as an anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, was incurred in active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient detail in the VA examination report regarding whether PTSD is attributable to an in-service stressor and if there were any behavior changes related to that stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, depressive disorder with PTSD and PTSD. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to the in-service assault and he has been granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination and an evaluation of his ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the Board finds that his PTSD is attributable to service. The diagnosis of PTSD was established by a private physician and corroborated by the Veteran's counselor.

The Board has remanded the case to allow the Veteran to have a travel board hearing at the Indianapolis, Indiana RO. The appeal is about whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 14, 2007 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that additional substantive development is necessary prior to appellate review of the new and material evidence claim on appeal. The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD will be readjudicated in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Board has determined that an effective date of August 8, 2003 is warranted for the award of a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's claim was construed as a concurrent claim for increased disability and unemployability.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially manifested by daily sleep impairment, nightmares, depression, irritability, hypervigilance, impaired impulse control, anxiety, periodic paranoia, inappropriate behavior, obsessive and/or ritualistic behavior, periodic panic attacks, neglect of hygiene, slight to moderate difficulty with some activities of daily living, recurrent and intrusive recollections, avoidance behavior, and deficiencies in the areas of judgment, thinking, family relationships, work, and mood. The medical evidence most closely approximates the criteria for a 70 percent initial evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from April 3, 2000 to December 30, 2008. Beginning December 30, 2008, the rating for PTSD remained at 70 percent.