PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorder, including a lack of verification for a reported stressor. The Veteran is also advised that his VA treatment records are needed.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues related to his service-connected PTSD, coronary artery disease, and TDIU claim. The case will be returned for further development including obtaining updated VA treatment records, a VA examination, and readjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 30% rating, effective from January 20, 2005. The case is pending for the determination of whether he should be awarded TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's alleged in-service stressor and to schedule a VA examination to determine if he has a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated as 10 percent disabling from May 30, 2002, through May 19, 2003. The Board has now assigned staged ratings of 50 percent, 30 percent, and 70 percent for different periods based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not related to an in-service stressor and denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the issue of an increased initial rating for PTSD due to the absence of a Substantive Appeal. The Veteran's claim will be considered de novo.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including securing Vet Center records and possibly arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD based on a verified stressor event in service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from SSA and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of stressor verification. The case is now pending and will be reviewed again after further development.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a 100% disability rating since the date of his original claim, considering the severity and incapacitating nature of his symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran's participation in a fight with civilians was not incurred in line of duty and constituted willful misconduct, resulting in denial of service connection for PTSD. The personal assault leading to head injury is considered willful misconduct.

The Veteran's PTSD 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 Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for PTSD and TDIU has been granted. The effective dates remain February 26, 2001.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depression and agoraphobia more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating as of February 2, 2006. The effective date is set at that time.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran likely has PTSD, which is a result of disease or injury incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by complaints of constant anxiety, a period of short-term memory loss, and disturbances of motivation and mood during the April 8, 2003 through October 21, 2004 rating period. The symptoms were productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.