PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and those related to undiagnosed illnesses from service in the Southwest Asian theater, are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of any of these conditions or establish their relationship to service.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent rating, which is the original date of the claim. The veteran's PTSD causes considerable impairment in social and industrial adaptability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not serve to reopen his previously disallowed claim. His claim for TDIU lacks legal merit as he does not have a service-connected disability. However, the veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to multiple disabilities, which qualifies him for special monthly pension.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's psychiatric disorder, characterized as an anxiety reaction or post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms have approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and a lower back disorder, finding that her claim was not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatitis, but denied the veteran's claims for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (to include as due to an undiagnosed illness), and post-traumatic stress disorder. The effective date of service connection for dermatitis is set at April 7, 1997.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 21, 1994 for service connection of PTSD was granted. The initial grant of a 30 percent evaluation for PTSD remains in effect as of August 20, 1996.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The left shoulder disability remains at a 10 percent rating. The residual scars of the left popliteal space are not compensable.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and post-traumatic stress disorder are currently evaluated, but the multiple scars of the face and neck do not warrant a compensable evaluation. The veteran is denied an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain and a compensable evaluation for his facial scars. His claim for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied as his disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and anxiety disorder are rated at a 100 percent, the highest rating possible under VA guidelines. The decision also notes that since the schedular rating is total (100%), there is no basis for assigning a TDIU rating.

The veteran's PTSD is so disabling that he is demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment, warranting a 100 percent schedular rating under the old criteria.

The veteran's appeal was granted, and he received a total rating for PTSD effective from June 9, 1992. The issue of an earlier effective date is still pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of January 29, 1996 for a 100% schedular rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted as his current disability from PTSD is attributed to the stressors he experienced during his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his PTSD was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for TDIU benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional VA outpatient treatment records and new examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and effective dates related to his service-connected PTSD and mycosis fungoides, finding that the criteria under the old rating schedule did not meet the requirements for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and finds that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected PTSD was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.