PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of combat exposure and the claimed in-service stressors have not been corroborated by service records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. The evidence shows that the Veteran had symptoms of a psychiatric condition during service and these symptoms have persisted since then.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective May 1, 2002. The earlier date of July 31, 2001 is granted for the purpose of establishing an effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to be manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The effective date of service connection was January 18, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent disability rating effective January 31, 2006. The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by flattened affect, impairment of memory, disturbance of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling from May 9, 2007 onwards. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, sleep impairment, impairment of recent memory, suicidal thoughts, avoidance symptoms, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the presence and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Board found that the submitted evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim for service connection due to PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders, as it was not new and material. The claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was denied as the increase in disability did not occur prior to the receipt of his claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, but the evidence is insufficient to determine whether it is related to an in-service stressor. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there were no credible evidence confirming the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as a review of his employment history.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the burn incident in 1977 supports his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not related to service due to a lack of verified in-service stressors, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).