PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's PTSD does not cause deficiencies in most areas of his life, and the Board finds a rating in excess of 50 percent unwarranted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the assignment of an effective date earlier than September 29, 2003 for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims for increased disability ratings for PTSD, an earlier effective date for service connection, and bilateral hearing loss have all been dismissed.

The Veteran's mental disorder has been manifested by occupational and social impairment due to moderate symptoms, but not severe enough for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining stressor information and VA treatment records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's sinus disorder and psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and panic disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective March 1, 2006. The rating for depressive symptoms (dysthymia) has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The March 30, 1979 rating decision reducing the Veteran's disability compensation for organic brain syndrome from 50 to 30 percent is overturned. The effective date of service connection for PTSD with organic brain syndrome is set at January 20, 1991.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his PTSD. The issue remains whether he is entitled to an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the August 1994 denial of service connection for PTSD, and an earlier effective date of October 22, 1993 is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed stressors were corroborated, but did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a verified PTSD diagnosis. The residuals of knee injuries are also denied as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since May 31, 2002.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant such an increase.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are service-connected, with PTSD being linked to his combat experience in service and depressive disorder being related to his frostbite injuries.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for her psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety reaction, bipolar disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder, was denied as the evidence of record did not show entitlement to this rating prior to May 7, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and the acquisition of updated medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hypertension related to service and denied his claim. The issue of PTSD is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the relationship between any current acquired psychiatric disorders and his military service.