PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD during service or due to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The TDIU issue was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from November 28, 2007. The rating was denied as the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found new and material evidence to reopen some of these claims. However, the claims were ultimately denied on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during her active service in Iraq is sufficient to establish a diagnosis of PTSD. The lung disability claim remains pending as there was no medical opinion provided regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied as there was no prior claim received within one year of his separation from active duty. The Board finds that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating for PTSD at any time since August 30, 1999.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current psychiatric disorders to his period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's temporal lobe epilepsy, finding that it began in service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as her combined disability rating is 80 percent, which does not satisfy the requirement of at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more with additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by chronic sleep disturbance, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, anxiety, depression, social isolation, anger, frustration, irritability, anger outbursts, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, occasional suicidal ideation, crying spells, near-continuous anxiety and depression, occasional auditory and visual hallucinations, and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating as of June 27, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to June 13, 2008, for PTSD was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and major depressive disorder, is as likely as not attributable to traumatic events during his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted service connection, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service assault. Service connection was also granted for residuals of a head injury and for treatment purposes only for a dental disorder affecting teeth other than 8 and 9.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a diagnosed psychiatric disorder as a result of his in-service stressors.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability, including Major Depressive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is granted as her condition is at least in equipoise with service connection due to evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since September 22, 2006. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher initial evaluation are not met.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and providing a PTSD personal assault notice and questionnaire.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on a verified in-service stressor. However, his prostate cancer claim was denied as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service and the condition did not manifest within one year after separation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective February 26, 2008. The rating reflects significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying the appellant's claimed stressors and determining whether his acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service. The VA will attempt to verify all of the appellant's claimed stressors, conduct a new examination to determine if PTSD is related to combat experiences, and obtain any relevant VA treatment records.