PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including panic disorder with agoraphobia and PTSD. The case is remanded due to incomplete development of the stressor events and outstanding VA treatment records.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 28, 2001. The Board granted a higher evaluation of 70 percent effective from the same date.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling from May 23, 2001. The VA has granted this rating.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed in-service stressors have not been verified and thus did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The digestive disorder issue remains denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a traveling Veterans Law Judge. The issues of service connection for various conditions remain on appeal.

The veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by severe symptoms, including depression, difficulty sleeping due to nightmares and flashbacks, irritability, anger, social isolation, problems with concentration, and reduced reliability and productivity. With the resolution of all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran, the schedular criteria for an evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD are met.

The veteran's appeal is for a higher initial disability evaluation for his service-connected PTSD. The RO has yet to consider the additional evidence submitted by the veteran and must do so before making a decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, which was previously denied in September 1991.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for PTSD and found that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD. The lower back disorder issue is being remanded due to insufficient medical examination records.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was granted, effective August 3, 2001.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional notification and development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The VA has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, but only at a 30 percent evaluation. The appeal is about whether this initial evaluation should be higher.

The veteran is seeking an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The RO has already granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, but the veteran believes he should receive a higher rating. He contends that his PTSD symptoms have increased in severity, forcing him to quit working and requiring weekly treatment from VA. However, the RO did not conduct a current VA psychiatric examination as required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities were not severe enough to have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to his death. The appellant's claim for TDIU for accrued benefits purposes is therefore denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability, finding that no evidence was provided within one year prior to April 30, 2002, which could be construed as an informal claim or show factual ascertainability of increased disability.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was granted, and he is now receiving a 100% disability evaluation effective from January 8, 1996.