PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100% rating, and his claim of service connection for a chronic back disability is reopened.

The veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 10 percent and he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability evaluation of 10 percent does not meet the schedular requirements, and there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's PTSD was not manifested by severe impairment in the ability to maintain favorable relationships or obtain or retain employment, with deficiencies in most areas prior to February 1, 1998.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The claim for service connection for a back injury is not well grounded.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hypertension, but denied service connection for gout. The veteran's claims of PTSD and hypertension are well-grounded.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional development, including a VA mental disorders examination to determine the relationship between his major depression and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation, effective from March 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms, which have been mild to moderate since January 1996, warrant a 30 percent evaluation as of the effective date of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is well grounded and has granted service connection based on direct evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective March 21, 1988. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis or link between his in-service experiences and his current PTSD symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for joint problems, hypertension, gout, poor vision and heart problems secondary to his service-connected post-operative residuals of a right nephrectomy are not well-grounded. The claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for PTSD and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left leg is not well-grounded due to insufficient evidence supporting the occurrence of claimed stressors during service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder was granted an evaluation of 50 percent effective from February 9, 1995, to November 7, 1996. The evaluation was increased to 50 percent effective from November 7, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence to support the existence of a verified in-service stressor and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the cause of death was arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, which is not related to service-connected conditions. The veteran's PTSD and alcoholism are also not considered contributory causes of his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right inguinal herniorrhaphy and service connection for PTSD have been denied. The denial of the PTSD claim is based on insufficient evidence to establish a verified stressor in service, while the denial of the increased rating claim is due to lack of recent medical examination.

The VA denied a higher disability rating for PTSD, finding that the veteran's condition is currently no more than 'definite' occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting an initial 30 percent evaluation.