PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to approximate occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, beginning November 14, 2005. The veteran is now rated at the highest disability rating of 70 percent for his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD attributable to verifiable inservice stressors and therefore denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and has also determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was incurred in active military service due to a stressor event during combat, and granted his claim.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation based on occupational and social impairment.

The Board has found that the veteran's PTSD is linked to a verified in-service stressor and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence. However, it was not established that the veteran incurred a stressor during active service or that his current PTSD is related to such service. The secondary service connection claim for paranoid schizophrenia as being aggravated by PTSD was denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a back disability, finding that the veteran did not have these conditions during his active duty or due to an in-service injury. The evidence showed no nexus between current low back symptoms and service.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disability, which includes PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation than 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD with depression was incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and ratings have been dismissed due to the lack of timely substantive appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining unit records from the USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14) for May and June of 1972 to verify the veteran's claimed stressors.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent since September 1, 2004. The RO has granted a higher rating to 70 percent effective from September 1, 2004.,Prior to June 30, 2004, the veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent.

The case is being remanded for additional development to ensure all relevant medical records are obtained and proper notice is provided to the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing additional VCAA notice. The veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety/panic attacks and PTSD are pending.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 10, 2006. Prior to that date, the symptoms warranted a 50 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The appeals for the initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also denied as there is no legal basis to assign a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board at the local RO due to the appellant's failure to appear for an earlier scheduled hearing.