PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and ensuring compliance with a prior remand.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA medical examination and consideration of service-connected disabilities in isolation.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to April 16, 2008, and increased to 70 percent from that date. The current ratings are within the range for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records from January 2008. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all applicable laws and regulations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and found that new and material evidence has been received. The issue is now on the merits.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have more nearly approximated the schedular criteria for a 70 percent rating, warranting an increased disability rating of 50 percent effective May 12, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they are mild and do not cause occupational or social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Veteran's postoperative hemorrhoidectomy does not warrant a compensable evaluation due to its current non-compensable status. The claim for reopening of service connection for ulcerative colitis has been denied as the new evidence received is not material.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a new VA examination for his anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, impaired impulse control, difficulty in adapting to stressful relationships, and inability to establish effective relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 50% disability rating, effective May 12, 2006. Service connection for PTSD is established and the effective date of service connection is set at May 12, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, and his claims for rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis are granted based on direct service connection. The claim to reopen for ulcerative colitis was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim was received.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from September 12, 2003 to July 21, 2004. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The RO denied the claim for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to cause significant impairment, but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's PTSD and onychomycosis.

The Veteran's claimed PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service due to the unverifiable nature of his reported stressors and failure to meet DSM-IV criteria for a PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD claim cannot be granted due to lack of a verified in-service stressor. However, service connection for Major Depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected hyperhidrosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his verified in-service stressor of combat exposure, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that the earliest date entitlement arose was January 16, 2002.