PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has found that a remand is required to ensure all required evidence is obtained and associated with the claims folder, including service medical records and VA treatment records.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the next higher rating available under VA guidelines.

The Board has determined that the veteran's suicide was caused by his service-connected PTSD, which arose out of his combat experiences in Vietnam. The cause of death is therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims for service connection are not well-grounded as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The veteran's claim for a bilateral foot disability was reopened and granted. His PTSD claim was also granted, with both conditions determined to be directly related to his military service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted, allowing the veteran's claim for PTSD to be reopened. The claim was then evaluated on its merits, with the conclusion being that the veteran's PTSD is causally linked to his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for PTSD, but granted a 30 percent rating. The veteran argues that he should have received a higher rating due to unemployability.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot adjudicate the merits of the claim as he is no longer alive.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a low back injury, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim is well-grounded as there is current disability of the low back.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that he failed to submit evidence of an inservice stressor and thus did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD results in severe social and industrial impairment, warranting a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Board has found the veteran's claim well grounded and remanded for further development, including verifying stressors and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and an undiagnosed illness manifested by neuropsychological signs or symptoms. Service connection was also denied for hearing loss, fatigue-related muscle and joint pains, neurological signs or symptoms, GI signs or symptoms, upper respiratory disorder, eye condition with light sensitivity and blurred vision, and bleeding gums.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating, as it results in considerable social and industrial impairment.

The VA has determined that the appellant's post-traumatic stress disorder does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for more severe disability.

The veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected PTSD, currently rated at 30 percent. The VA has requested additional medical records and scheduled the veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board denied reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, as all submitted evidence was considered cumulative or redundant.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back disorder, an adjustment disorder, PTSD, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's PTSD rendered him unable to obtain or retain employment prior to August 4, 1997.,PTSD continued to render the veteran unable to obtain or retain employment on and after October 1, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased disability rating for exostosis of the left foot, finding that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current symptoms and his claimed inservice stressors. The veteran's exostosis is currently rated at 10%.