PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability are being remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the RO for further action, including obtaining additional evidence and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for depressive neurosis and a rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD were denied. The Board remanded the case to consider these issues.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and psychiatric disorders other than PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses.,Service connection for alcohol dependence is precluded as a matter of law due to the nature of the condition.

The VA has granted a higher initial evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD, effective from the date of service connection claim.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and shell fragment wound residuals, both resulting from combat in Vietnam, are found to be of such severity as to preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence for the PTSD claim and other issues are also pending.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD was denied. For bilateral hearing loss, the RO granted service connection but assigned a noncompensable rating prior to May 8, 2003, and then increased it to 10 percent from that date. The RO also denied an increase in the rating for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including skin cancer of the ear and neck, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, hyperlipidemia, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus, all presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between his service and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and needs further verification of the veteran's claimed stressors. The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD related to events during his time in Korea.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors and thus failing to establish combat service.

The veteran's PTSD rating was increased to 70 percent, but the case is being remanded for further action due to missing records and clarification of his SSA disability award.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of virtual isolation in the community, warranting a 100 percent evaluation from June 20, 1990 to October 29, 1997.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 30 percent effective October 21, 1997. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his psychiatric disability or any other service-connected condition to his death from renal carcinoma.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for further development due to the need to verify an in-service stressor related to PTSD and to consider whether the verified stressor is sufficient to produce post-traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran's claim of a higher initial evaluation for his PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

For the period July 26, 2001 to January 11, 2004, the veteran's PTSD was manifested by depression, anxiety, panic attacks, fear of public, social withdrawal, nervousness, and middle insomnia.,For the period January 12, 2004 to March 7, 2004, the veteran's PTSD was manifested by visual and auditory hallucinations, nervousness, anxiety, paranoia, poor judgment and insight, some delusional thinking, and looseness of association. The veteran also had visual and auditory hallucinations.,The veteran's PTSD symptoms worsened significantly from July 26, 2001 to March 7, 2004.

The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was received on October 22, 2001. The VA outpatient treatment records and the vocational rehabilitation folder do not show any treatment or diagnosis of a service-connected condition prior to this date that would have rendered the veteran unemployable.