PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for PTSD and a skin disorder has been remanded due to procedural issues. The case will be readjudicated on a de novo basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD, COPD, and cancer (claimed as Hodgkin's disease), due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for Agent Orange exposure was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for PTSD requires further development to verify claimed stressors and participation in combat with the enemy.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, and his rating was increased to 70 percent effective from the date of receipt of his claim in August 1996.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 14, 1992 for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to inservice sexual trauma, and service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred PTSD in service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 50 percent initial rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from December 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that no legal entitlement existed to any date prior December 29, 1998.

The VA determined that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there is no verified stressor related to service. The Board found that the evidence does not establish a link between current PTSD symptoms and any in-service stressors, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent evaluation, effective from October 13, 1993, due to his unemployability and severe impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression is shown to be productive of depression, irritability, increased sleep difficulties and anxiety; his psychiatric disorder has not resulted in severe impairment or occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of stressors and examination.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding his reported stressors and unit assignments during his service in Vietnam. The case is returned to the RO for further development, including verifying the dates of service, obtaining service personnel records, and attempting to corroborate the veteran's alleged stressor events.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher disability rating, and thus denies an increased rating.

The VA Regional Office (RO) denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, currently evaluated at 30 percent.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 1995. The Board found that the disability picture warranted a 100 percent rating under the old criteria, which is more favorable than the new criteria. As a result, the claim for an effective date earlier than August 18, 1998 for a total schedular rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability has been rendered moot.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and an increased rating for sacroiliac joint strain with muscle spasm, residuals of motor vehicle accident. The appeal is pending.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD with depression and assigned an initial evaluation of 50 percent. The veteran is now seeking a higher rating.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to a higher rating for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need to review the case under the old criteria as in effect prior to November 7, 1996.