PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his military service, and he is entitled to service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence linking his anxiety and major depression directly to his military service.

The Board found that the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were not well grounded, as there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is well-grounded. The evidence supports a diagnosis of conversion disorder and some symptoms consistent with PTSD. The RO should make specific determinations regarding stressor verification and examine the appellant to determine if there is a link between current symptomatology and any verified stressors.

The Board has determined that the appellant's period of VA hospitalization from May 1, 1996, to June 17, 1996, was required for treatment of his service-connected PTSD and warrants a temporary 100 percent rating under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.29.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent evaluation due to severe impairment in occupational and social functioning, including persistent anger, periods of extreme rage, inability to establish effective relationships, and intermittent cataleptic episodes.

The veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is well-grounded, and the appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms are characterized by memory problems such as forgetting names and directions, social impairment, depressed mood, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment. The criteria for a higher rating (50%) are not met due to lack of more serious memory impairment or other specific symptoms.

The VA determined that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and found the claim not well grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as they lack supporting medical evidence and do not meet the plausibility threshold.

The Board has granted service connection for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and assigned a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD from August 8, 1996 to April 10, 1998.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 50 percent for the veteran's PTSD, finding that it primarily manifests as a flat affect and depression with occasional irritability and nightmares related to Vietnam experiences. The symptoms do not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available for this condition under the new criteria. The VA has determined that his symptoms are severe enough to warrant a total disability evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted, effective from August 29, 1990. The attorney is eligible to receive 20% of the past-due benefits created by this decision.

The case is remanded due to the need to verify the veteran's claimed stressors while in Vietnam, and to determine if PTSD can be diagnosed based on these verified events.

The veteran's PTSD is granted, and his claims for headaches, sleep problems, and ulcers due to Agent Orange exposure are also granted. His right ear hearing loss disability remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sterility and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim for either condition.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is not well grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence linking her current psychiatric disorders to her active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 10, 1997 for service connection of PTSD based on a denial in July 1992 due to lack of evidence showing PTSD at that time. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the prior decision.