PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and other claimed disabilities due to lack of evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board denied service connection for the left elbow disability and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The veteran's current complaints are not considered to be related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and the reopening of the claim for headaches. The veteran's claims were based on alleged combat experiences in Vietnam, but evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent since November 7, 1996. The appeal for a higher rating or TDIU remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and his generalized anxiety disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent, effective April 12, 1994. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder based on new evidence provided by the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions based on recent medical evaluations. The decision also noted that there was no clear and unmistakable error in previous rating actions.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which reflects significant impairment but not total occupational and social impairment. The other conditions (hearing loss and headaches) are not considered service connected.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that new evidence supports reopening of these previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions based on his military service or any other evidence presented.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired neuropsychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The RO is instructed to schedule a VA psychiatric examination and obtain additional evidence before readjudicating the claim.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are currently evaluated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary linkage.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the spine, degenerative joint disease of the spine, and PTSD due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran's back pain was not diagnosed or treated during service, nor within one year after discharge. His PTSD is not shown to have its origins in his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The RO increased the initial rating from 10% to 50%, effective as of the date of his original claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic renal failure. The claim for PTSD was also denied as it did not result in occupational and social impairment warranting a higher evaluation. The shell fragment wound scars were evaluated at their current levels of 10 percent.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective October 31, 1998. The RO granted an increased rating for the period from October 31, 1998 forward.

The veteran's left knee disorder is rated at 20 percent under DC 5258 due to arthritis and swelling. An effective date prior to January 5, 2000 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was granted based on the severity of his symptoms and treatment.

The veteran's PTSD rendered him unemployable, and the Board granted a 100 percent schedular evaluation effective from August 28, 1992. The RO incorrectly assigned an earlier effective date of June 12, 1996.