PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and a digestive disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service stressors related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, requires additional development and is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and an opinion on whether he is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, back pain, bunions, groin disorder, diverticulum, and PTSD were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, gastrointestinal problems, and acquired psychiatric disabilities are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA psychiatric and industrial examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after these examinations are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from May 1998 to May 2006. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 5, 2009 for PTSD and entitlement to an effective date prior to July 15, 2005 for the grant of service connection for PTSD are pending.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent, tinnitus at 10 percent, and hypertension is not service connected.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD due to new evidence received since the September 2004 rating decision, including VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's reported stressors are being verified.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 2008, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The evidence does not show a higher rating as required by the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as there is no evidence showing he filed a claim prior to May 19, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The case will be readjudicated after obtaining any relevant SSA records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is now remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine whether a current diagnosis of PTSD can be made based on in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his military service, specifically the October 1986 electrocution incident. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for his psychiatric disorders and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD has been granted, as his current diagnosis of PTSD is related to an in-service stressor involving a soldier attacking him with a knife. The Board found that the Veteran's lay testimony alone may establish the occurrence of this claimed in-service stressor under the recent amendment to the governing regulation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% disability evaluation for his left knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he was entitled to such a rating prior to September 29, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional records and conduct further development, including a search for possible humanitarian awards related to the Veteran's service on board the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard during typhoons in October 1970.