PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus, his testimony alone is insufficient to establish the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor. The medical evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on verified stressors related to service.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and awarded a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of receipt of the veteran's claim in October 1997. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD remains before the Board.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused his death due to coronary artery sclerosis. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise, granting service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran submitted evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for PTSD, which was granted. The appellant is claiming that the veteran's death was due to PTSD, which should be service-connected.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of impairment reported as depression, sleep disturbances, recurrent nightmares, exaggerated startle response, panic, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, disturbance of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing work and social relationships, and both long and short term memory problems. The Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation have been met on the basis of the evidentiary record to date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and SFW, finding that his symptoms did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for PTSD and duodenal ulcer are denied as they do not meet the criteria for increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, which is the lowest rating available under current criteria.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that he engaged in combat and experienced a verified stressor. The issue of reopening his claim for pulmonary sarcoidosis is remanded.

The Board found that the appellant's PTSD did not warrant a higher disability rating, as it manifested no more than 50 percent disabling from March 25, 1993 through February 5, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms are better explained by his nonservice-connected dementia rather than his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The RO has also determined that the veteran is not entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD based on personal assaults in service is well grounded and the appeal is allowed. The case is remanded to obtain additional information from alternative sources.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is service-connected, based on new evidence provided by the veteran.

The VA has granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for PTSD, which is more than the current noncompensable rating. The veteran's symptoms have improved with medication and counseling, but he continues to avoid activities that trigger his PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a plausible claim, but finds that there is no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD as a result of service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to assess the degree of impairment due to service-connected PTSD and distinguish it from other diagnoses.

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.