PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development, including verification of claimed stressors and clarification of psychiatric diagnoses. The Veteran's PTSD claim will be evaluated based on the new evidence submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining all relevant medical records and personnel file. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD was not shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to February 18, 2009. For the period beginning February 18, 2009, he did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by significant social and occupational impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is not shown to have been manifested by symptoms productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas at any time during the pendency of this appeal. Therefore, a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression and a panic disorder more nearly approximates the criteria for a total schedular evaluation based on complete occupational and social impairment. From May 31, 2005, to the present, the Veteran's Herpes Simplex I has required use of systemic therapy for more than six weeks during the course of a single year.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to active service. The criteria for an initial rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder have not been met, and the criteria for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his military service. The claim for glaucoma is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by severe symptomatology, including flashbacks, nightmares, severe outbursts of anger, suicidal thoughts, and other significant symptoms resulting in the Veteran's unemployability. The Board finds that a 100 percent rating for PTSD is warranted due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection of PTSD and an increased evaluation for costochondritis due to a lack of basic eligibility for compensation under U.S.C. Title 38 for injury or disease incurred during her participation in Hurricane Katrina disaster relief operations as state National Guardsman activated under Title 32 U.S.C.

The Veteran's claim seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as a free-standing claim, not related to CUE in a previous final rating decision.

The Board has determined that there is a need for further development of the Veteran's claim, including verifying his in-service stressors and scheduling him for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and whether any current acquired psychiatric disorder is linked to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychological examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim should be recharacterized as seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. A new examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are consistent with his military duties and have been linked to his current symptoms by a VA psychologist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that the initial denial was final and no new or material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as no credible military service was found.