PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis, depression with anxiety, PTSD, and a laceration on the forehead as these conditions are not related to military service.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, to his military service or any verified in-service stressor.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is on appeal.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 50 percent evaluation of PTSD is on appeal.,The veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is on appeal.,The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a stomach disorder due to VA surgery in April 1992 is on appeal.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's PTSD from July 27, 2000 to December 6, 2001.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by depression, anxiety, guilt, suicidal ideation, irritability, memory and concentration issues, intrusive memories, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, sleep problems, impaired judgment, difficulty in work environment, and social isolation. The Board finds that the criteria for a 70 percent rating have been met.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining relevant medical records, is needed before the claim can be decided.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The symptoms include mild memory impairment and sleep impairment.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 31, 2001, due to serious or severe symptoms including social isolation and difficulty in communication.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent prior to December 23, 1998 and later at 30 percent after that date. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The veteran's PTSD has caused moderate to severe occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The VA assigned a 70 percent disability rating for the condition.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since July 12, 1995. The TDIU issue is resolved as the grant of a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD resolves this issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, fatigue, hair loss, lower extremity numbness, dry mouth, night sweats, painful joints, and migraine headaches. The decision found no current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted, and he now has a current diagnosis of hypertension related to his active service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service and did not provide sufficient information for verification of any in-service stressor. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The VA denied an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD as a result of active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to the veteran's failure to appear at a previously scheduled hearing and his reported medical condition.