PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to missing service records and unavailability of private treatment records. The case will be reviewed after the necessary steps are taken.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD consistent with DSM-IV criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted and rated at 30 percent, effective August 7, 2008. The RO also decreased the rating for head injury residuals to 0 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to February 5, 2009. The symptoms included anxiety, depression, and sleep impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The right shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, but is presumed due to a post-service injury. The right knee disability is also not linked to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, effective December 16, 2009. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and spine conditions, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support the current diagnoses.,Service connection could not be established for any of the claimed disabilities due to a lack of credible evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not significantly impair his occupational and social functioning.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the appellant's claimed in-service stressor event, and thus denied service connection for PTSD. The Board also noted that other psychiatric diagnoses provided by competent medical professionals were not shown to be related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Montclair Hospital and providing the Veteran with a copy of her VA examination report.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted effective September 30, 2000. He is currently rated at 100 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to March 20, 2008 and then increased to 70 percent effective May 1, 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to July 1, 1997. The effective date of the award of TDIU was granted on July 1, 1997.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 10 percent prior to March 30, 2009 and increased ratings of 50 percent from March 30, 2009 through July 8, 2012, and 70 percent thereafter. The maximum rating for PTSD has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board also noted that additional development was required, including obtaining mental health records from active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic left knee or left ankle disability that is related to his service, and thus denied his claims for service connection in these areas. The psychiatric claim was also denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition within one year post-service.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor event, and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder was denied. The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric disability that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as his diagnosis of PTSD is based on an in-service stressor event, which has been verified and supported by credible supporting evidence.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: a request for an increased disability rating for PTSD and a claim for TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination, and develop the TDIU claim.