PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical examinations to assess the veteran's hearing loss, PTSD, left foot disability, scar, and left hip/leg pain.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. The issue of PTSD is being remanded for further development.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the eligibility requirements for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as sleep disturbance, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, irritability, concentration deficit, and suicidal ideation. The VA has determined that the disability warrants a 70 percent evaluation.

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 veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a chronic knee disability. However, the claims are being REMANDED as they need further review on their merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that the earliest possible effective date had already been granted on November 10, 2003. The decision also noted that the veteran did not meet all eligibility criteria for a liberalizing law or VA issue related to PTSD diagnosis prior to April 1980.

The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is incurred in service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for PTSD due to new evidence, but service connection cannot be established as there is no verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran meets the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD related to his Vietnam service.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records and provide corrective VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and an initial higher rating for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a rating of 100 percent, effective from July 28, 1997.

The veteran's disability picture from 1998 through 2005 more nearly approximates a disability rating of 50 percent until September 2002, at which time a rating of 70 percent became appropriate.

The Board has determined that the January 27, 1986, VA outpatient treatment record is the date of claim for an increase in post-traumatic stress disorder. The veteran was hospitalized from January 28, 1986 to March 13, 1986 and granted a temporary total evaluation. As he has been in receipt of a 100 percent evaluation since January 28, 1986, the effective date is set at that time.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The focus will be on determining whether the veteran's current psychiatric disorder(s), to include PTSD, are related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and asbestosis, as well as a TDIU claim were denied by the Board. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 10 percent, while the asbestosis rating was changed from noncompensable to 30 percent effective April 26, 2005.

The veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in service due to a personal assault. The heart disability and hypertension are linked to the veteran's PTSD, meeting the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including notification of new and material evidence requirements, obtaining Social Security Administration records, verifying a witness name, and readjudicating the claims based on de novo review.