PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to a service-connected disability are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors. The Veteran is asked to provide specific details of his alleged service stressors, which will then be verified by VA.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The evidence received since April 1997 is new and material, meeting the requirements to reopen the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The appeal was remanded to provide the Veteran's local representative with an opportunity to review the case and prepare written argument.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and development of his claim, including consideration of a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that the conditions are related to military service.

The Board found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, as there was no confirmed diagnosis based on verified stressors and no behavioral changes in response to claimed incidents. The Veteran's allegations were not corroborated by objective sources.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and to schedule him for a VA psychiatric examination. The claims of service connection for PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder are being considered.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and medical records from the Railroad Retirement Board.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work and family relations due to symptoms that include suicidal ideation, near continuous anxiety which affects the ability to function effectively, irritability, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances to include work, and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the failure of the VA to provide proper notice and scheduling of an examination. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to September 28, 2006 and denied his requests for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective May 9, 2007. TDIU was granted effective on that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension. The new evidence received since the final denial of these claims is found to be material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective April 6, 2006. The Board found that the disability more closely approximates a 50 percent rating based on symptoms such as intrusive thoughts and nightmares, but not meeting the criteria for higher ratings due to lack of other severe symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor, and therefore service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for PTSD was denied, as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to active service or his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 25, 2003. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD and granted a TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disability, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms like suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, appropriate and effectively. For COPD, service connection was denied because there is no evidence showing the condition was initially manifested during service or as an aggravation of a pre-existing condition.