PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service experiences as a paratrooper.

The veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the inability to attend a scheduled hearing.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD. The Board has ordered the RO to verify the stressors and obtain all relevant records before deciding his claim.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that new evidence supports reopening of his previously denied claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current symptoms are related to his military service.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD, which was granted on September 27, 2004. The case is being remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient detail of the veteran's claimed PTSD and the need for verification of an inservice stressor. The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which he believes was caused by stressful events during his time in Vietnam.

The veteran's PTSD causes trouble sleeping, irritability, and difficulty concentrating but does not cause suicidal or homicidal ideations. The VA examiner found the veteran to have moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD with bipolar disorder is rated at 30 percent since November 7, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and that psychiatric disability other than PTSD was not incurred or aggravated during active service. The claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to October 20, 2003. From that date until November 29, 2004, the rating was increased to 50 percent. Effective from November 30, 2004, the VA assigned a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and the evaluation of residuals of a burn injury to the right arm, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service stressor or current disability.

The Board denied reopening the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and found that new and material evidence was not received. The claim for service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a 70 percent rating is warranted based on his symptoms of deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, and mood.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's PTSD, which is the highest available rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including verification of the veteran's claimed stressors and an opinion regarding whether his pre-existing bipolar disorder was aggravated by service. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no independent supporting clinical evidence from a physician or other medical professional to corroborate the alleged stressors. The veteran was not found to have engaged in combat with the enemy and his allegations of exposure to sniper fire, witnessing the death of an enemy, and seeing a U.S. soldier shoot himself in the leg were deemed too anecdotal to be verified.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to his participation in combat during service, and the symptoms are consistent with his reported experiences.

The veteran's residuals of tonsillectomy are rated at a 10 percent evaluation. The initial evaluation for PTSD prior to January 6, 2005 is granted at 30 percent and increased to 70 percent from that date.