PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is characterized by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but generally functioning satisfactorily. The RO has remanded the issue of service connection for cervical disc degeneration, C5-7.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The appeal is now pending with the RO.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of symptomatology that more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent initial disability rating for the entire period of appeal from October 15, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for multiple joint and muscle pain involving the neck, shoulders, and elbows as well as chest cavity pain, both claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in service, while his other claims were not supported by evidence.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD secondary to MST is denied as there is no verified in-service stressor.

The Board found that there was no verified stressor related to the Veteran's service, and thus denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for chronic PTSD and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression. The Veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence, but the conditions were not found to be incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and an anxiety disorder, finding no credible supporting evidence of inservice stressors.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, chronic back pain, and hypertension were denied. The claims for a left arm burn and right ankle sprain have been reopened.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for his service-connected sinusitis with allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at the 20 percent level prior to August 7, 2007, but any increase in severity after that date would require further evidence.

The Veteran's schizophrenia and PTSD have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain relevant records from SSA. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any chronic lumbar spine, right shoulder or left knee conditions, nor cysts of the lower abdominal wall, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA PTSD examination and reviewing all of the Veteran's mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing and additional VCAA notice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection and did not find new and material evidence to reopen his claim of right leg injury service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent for the period from July 14, 2004 through September 20, 2005, and from November 1, 2005 through June 22, 2006. For the period from August 1, 2006, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD with depression is granted due to the positive medical opinion supporting a link between his diagnosed medical stressor and his diagnosed PTSD.