PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the claimed conditions did not manifest during active service or within one year of service, and are not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vascular dementia and PTSD, finding that he does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-IV. The Veteran's currently diagnosed vascular dementia was first manifested many years after his military service ended and has not been linked by competent evidence to his service.

The Board has remanded the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further proceedings consistent with a recent Court decision in Clemons v. Shinseki, which held that a claim for PTSD should not be limited to only that diagnosis but should also consider other mental disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous instructions and needs further development regarding the Veteran's claimed stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD was received on December 20, 2005. As there were no prior claims or informal claims submitted before this date, an effective date earlier than December 20, 2005 is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to DSM-IV criteria, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder attributable to her active military service and denied her claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent since May 18, 2005. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted beginning in May 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective June 9, 2009. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the appellant's claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the claim on its merits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Vet Center records and verifying in-service stressors. The appellant's psychiatric disorders will be evaluated to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms that include depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, isolation, decreased interest, sleep impairment, difficulty concentrating, and intermittent panic attacks. However, these symptoms have not been severe enough to interfere with occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not produce severe impairment in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The disability did not prevent gainful employment during the period from February 15, 1996 to November 9, 2001.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and she is entitled to service connection for this condition. Her claims for increased ratings for lumbar disc disease and left sciatic nerve neuralgia are also granted.