PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD related to his military service and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions and denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, but the claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and need clarification on the diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. For the period from April 6, 2001 to August 30, 2004, he received a 10 percent evaluation for PTSD, which was deemed insufficiently disabling. For the period commencing on August 31, 2004, his PTSD symptoms were considered moderate but did not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have PTSD, and thus his claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The veteran's PTSD is primarily manifested by mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety, feelings of anger; chronic sleep disturbances; difficulty with social interaction; lack of concentration; and increasing social isolation resulting in severe but less than total social and occupational impairment.,The criteria for a disability evaluation of 70 percent were met from the date of claim for service connection PTSD. The criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent have not been met at any time.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that entitlement to TDIU was factually ascertainable as of November 1, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the veteran's treatment at the Vet Center and verifying his in-service stressors. The veteran is to be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD due to verified in-service stressor.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 10 percent prior to February 9, 2004 and at 30 percent as of that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for either period.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches, and fatigue were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a clear diagnosis of PTSD based on a link between in-service stressors and current symptomatology.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and psychiatric condition were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The PTSD claim was also denied due to lack of verified stressors.

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer from PTSD related to documented, verified, or presumed stressors during his period of service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is associated with his military service and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for lung cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder as the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and found that there was no indication of PTSD in his medical records. The veteran did not engage in combat, which is a requirement for establishing an in-service stressor for PTSD. As such, the claim was denied.

The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for both the PTSD and residuals of ruptured eardrums claims, including providing notice under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(3) regarding personal assault allegations for PTSD, obtaining VA outpatient treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine if current ear disorders are related to military service, and readjudicating the issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to service and whether the veteran was exposed to in-service stressors that could lead to PTSD. The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether PTSD is present and because there is no evidence of in-service stressors. The veteran will be provided a VA examination and his claim for service connection for PTSD will be readjudicated.