PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and PTSD, finding no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD was denied. The Board previously granted a 50% rating effective October 8, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, specifically reconciling his current psychiatric diagnosis with previous diagnoses and determining if service connection can be established.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, allowing the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD to be reopened. However, further development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify a specific in-service stressor and determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder causes total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating. His right eye injury is rated at 10%, his right fibula fracture at 10%, and he is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is also denied as there is no medical evidence showing it was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the maximum (100%) disability rating since August 12, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by severe symptoms including sleep disturbance, intrusive thoughts, avoidance behavior, anxiety-panic attacks, and impaired impulse control. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent disabling for PTSD was denied. His claims for an effective date prior to December 1, 2004 and a permanent 100 percent combined schedular disability rating were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and referring the case to the Chief Benefits Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, representing total schedular disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support the claim and that the appeal should be characterized as encompassing only the matter of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with dysthymic disorder and social anxiety disorder was not productive of total social and occupational impairment from May 4, 2000 to November 9, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and consideration of the appellant's claims, including proper VCAA notice.

The Board found that there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.