PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has remanded the case due to new allegations of PTSD stressors in the Dominican Republic and Vietnam, requiring further development including a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of increased disability rating for PTSD and total rating based on individual unemployability are not before the Board as they do not pertain to a living veteran.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to insufficient evidence supporting these claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and a Skin Disorder on the basis of Agent Orange exposure was denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 2, 1994 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claim was initially filed in January 1994 but received by the RO on February 2, 1994.

The initial 50 percent rating for PTSD from April 14, 1994 to November 6, 1996 was upheld as the criteria for a higher evaluation had not been met during that period. The veteran's other conditions were rated appropriately.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for PTSD and for an earlier effective date for service connection, finding that he did not timely perfect his appeal on either issue.

The VA has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, but maintains a current rating of 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, based on new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development of records and consideration of stressor claims.

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in marked impairment of thought and behavioral processes, leading to total occupational and social impairment. The VA Board has granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD under the old criteria.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the appellant's claim was not well grounded due to lack of credible supporting evidence for his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is service-connected and grants special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance of another individual. The claim for shell fragment wounds remains pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and right knee disability were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD, no evidence of marked impairment in the feet or knees warranting a higher rating, and insufficient instability to support an additional rating under Diagnostic Code 5261.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD and chronic sinusitis ratings are denied as the evidence does not show that the disabilities warranted such earlier effective dates.

The Board has denied the claim that service-connected disabilities contributed to the veteran's death, finding no causal connection between his service-connected conditions and his cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified stressor, despite his reported involvement in a motor vehicle accident with fatalities during active duty.

The veteran's non-service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, as his combined evaluation is 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by frequent panic attacks, nightmares, continuous depression/anxiety and limited social interactions. The criteria formerly used by VA to evaluate the severity of his PTSD are more favorable to his appeal, leading to a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, as long as it was related to his service and combat experiences.