PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The veteran's PTSD is granted as it was incurred in active military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the lack of service medical records and a need for additional evidence.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Board has determined that a 70 percent evaluation is warranted for the veteran's PTSD, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has characterized the rating issue on appeal as the evaluation of PTSD, rated at 30 percent disabling from April 4, 1989 and at 50 percent disabling from March 19, 1998. The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD during the time periods at issue has been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD results in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not currently have PTSD related to his service in Vietnam, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to a lack of verified in-service stressors and credible supporting evidence, leading to a denial based on insufficient medical nexus.

The Board found no evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.,PTSD was not established as the veteran did not provide specific verified stressors in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is well-grounded and grants the claim.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and an increased rating for his anxiety disorder were denied. The Board found no credible evidence of the claimed in-service stressors, and thus service connection could not be established. His anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50%.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability evaluation, reflecting moderate to serious impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and a bilateral foot disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal regarding his claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to August 22, 1991, for an award of a total disability rating for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD remains viable, and the RO is instructed to review his case under applicable regulations and consider possible staged ratings in accordance with Fenderson.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted by the appellant, including additional progress notes and articles related to PTSD. The RO will then issue a supplemental statement of the case.