PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective September 13, 1993. The initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD remains in effect since October 9, 1997.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is not well grounded. However, the criteria for an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD have been met.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and to verify any claimed stressors. The case will be returned for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is incurred in active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD, which was granted in September 1998. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and adjudicate the issue again.

The veteran's claims for service connection were previously denied as not well grounded. The Board has now remanded the case to allow further development of evidence, including verification of stressors and exposure in service.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a higher disability evaluation of 70 percent, effective February 9, 2000.

The VA determined that the veteran is not eligible for fee-basis outpatient medical care due to the availability of a VA facility in Santa Rosa, California.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an increased evaluation for his right leg disability and service connection for a stomach disorder. However, it granted him an effective date of September 19, 1987, for the grant of service connection for PTSD based on clear and unmistakable error in prior rating decisions issued in 1971. The Board also found that there was no legal basis to assign an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to incomplete verification of stressors and need for a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious mood, to include PTSD, is currently rated at 50 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The VA determined that the appellant's PTSD was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of April 23, 1998 for service connection of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The veteran argued that his diagnoses of personality disorder and schizophrenia in the past may have been erroneous, but the Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1982 decision.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective August 10, 2000. The gastrointestinal disorder is rated at 10 percent. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 100% evaluation for PTSD and has determined the effective date of this decision to be November 21, 2000.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding his alleged combat service and service stressors. The appeal is not about a presumption, secondary condition, aggravation, or reopening on new evidence.

The veteran has a diagnosed PTSD but lacks credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors. The case is remanded to the RO for further development, including verification of the stressors from USASCRUR.

The veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 100 percent.,An effective date prior to March 25, 1992 for the 30 percent rating for chloracne is not warranted.,There is no clear and unmistakable error in the December 1971 rating decision regarding sebaceous cysts.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as the earliest date entitlement to service connection arose is February 3, 1992, and the date of receipt of claim is May 28, 1992. The Board found that the proper effective date should be May 28, 1992.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding that the veteran engaged in combat and was exposed to acoustic trauma. The claimant's current symptoms of PTSD are presumed due to his combat experience.