PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran's claim to reopen her previously denied service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to preliminary issues and procedural development needs.

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

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination regarding irritable bowel syndrome and to issue a Statement of the Case on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions. The veteran's representative appealed all issues listed in the November 2002 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain more information about the veteran's claimed in-service stressful experiences and to determine whether these events are sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD. The claim will be reconsidered on the merits after this additional development.

The Board found no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further evaluation and consideration.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, reflecting the severity of his symptoms and their impact on daily life.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of residuals of a head injury and also denied his claim for a combined disability evaluation greater than 90 percent.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and thus could not establish a stressor related to his service. As such, the claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for depression, but it is unclear whether this will result in a grant or denial of service connection due to the mixed nature of the issues. The veteran's claims for PTSD and migraine headaches remain pending.

The Board found that there is no credible supporting evidence of a stressor event in service and concluded that the veteran's PTSD is not related to his military service.

The Board has ordered a remand to gather additional evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as it was caused by an in-service personal assault, and there is credible supporting evidence of the stressor.

The veteran's PTSD causes total social and occupational impairment, resulting in a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation, which is higher than the current 50 percent rating. The symptoms of PTSD include depression, suicidal ideation, and marked irritability, meeting the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation under the new VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no independent verification of a stressor in service and thus insufficient evidence to support his diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and PTSD are both denied as there is no current medical evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for PTSD. The appellant is advised that failure to report for a scheduled VA examination may result in a denial of the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have an employment handicap prior to September 5, 2003 and therefore does not meet the criteria for retroactive entitlement to Vocational Rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at March 8, 1999. This decision is based on new evidence received after a previous denial in February 1990.