PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA mental health treatment records and requesting an opinion regarding the impact of PTSD on his employability.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board denied higher ratings for his shell fragment wounds of the left arm, shoulder, and deltoid area.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to his inpatient medical treatment for hepatitis during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and thus denied service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a left ankle disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and that his current PTSD did not develop during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including providing proper VCAA notice and scheduling a PTSD examination.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 80 percent. However, further medical opinion is needed to determine if his service-connected conditions alone render him unemployable.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, residuals of a colon tear, and nasal disorder are denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of chronic conditions. The claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis remains pending due to the lack of a definitive diagnosis.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and DJD of the cervical spine, finding no evidence of a stressor or injury during service that could lead to these conditions. The veteran's current diagnoses are not linked to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD and depression claims, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The issues of service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) including depression are now before the Board.

The Board found that the veteran did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement with respect to the June 11, 2003 rating decision regarding his PTSD. As such, the determination in that decision is final.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted an additional 20% rating to reach a total of 70%. The effective date for this increase in rating remains pending.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, reflecting total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board found no verified inservice stressors for PTSD and denied the claim as service connection is not warranted.

The Board has granted a 100% evaluation for PTSD, increased the rating for left toe disability to 10%, and denied service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of May 31, 2001 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. This decision was based on the earliest documented diagnosis of PTSD, which occurred in May 2001.