PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for all issues is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since January 30, 2006. The combined rating for service-connected disabilities was correctly calculated.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since January 25, 1993. The claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disability is dismissed as the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD from November 14, 2003 through April 2, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizoid personality disorder. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service stressors and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is manifested by sleep difficulties, nightmares, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, exaggerated startle response, flashbacks, irritability, anger outbursts, anxiety, social isolation, a depressed mood, restricted or flat affect, and crying episodes. The evidence also showed that the Veteran had good grooming and hygiene, organized thoughts, no suicidal or homicidal ideation, no psychosis, logical and linear thought process, no auditory or visual hallucinations, no delusions, and intact insight and judgment.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating higher than 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, effective from February 16, 2001 to March 31, 2003, was granted by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, shrapnel wounds, and lymphoma, are rated at a combined 60 percent. However, the VA compensation examiners concluded that his disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including auditory hallucinations, delusions, and impaired concentration, do not warrant a higher initial rating as they are primarily characterized by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat and his reported stressor was unsubstantiated. As a result, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD does not cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. Therefore, the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has ordered the development of stressor events and a psychiatric evaluation to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed PTSD was not incurred as a result of an in-service stressor and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and determine if he meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of malaria, and seizures have been denied as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.