PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have post-traumatic stress disorder, but schizophrenia, paranoid type, was incurred during service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no established stressor in service and thus no basis to grant the claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of an inservice stressor. The case will be referred back to the RO for further development, including verification of a specific stressor and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is well-grounded. The case was remanded to obtain medical records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and to seek medical opinions regarding the etiology of any identified acquired psychiatric disorders.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was granted, with a rating of 30 percent. The claim for service connection for a skin disorder due to herbicide exposure during service is well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was not well-grounded due to her pre-existing personality disorder and lack of in-service stressor, leading to a denial.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The residuals of a gunshot wound to the right thigh are currently rated at 10 percent, and PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran suffers from PTSD related to his combat experiences in Vietnam, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board found that the evidence did not reflect a diagnosis of PTSD and thus the claim for service connection for PTSD is not well grounded.

The Board found that the November 1991 rating decision did not contain clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in granting service connection for PTSD, but denied a request for an earlier effective date for the 100% disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chin scar and an increased rating for PTSD. The denial is based on insufficient evidence to establish that the current chin scar was incurred in service, and it is also noted that there are no medical records available from his period of active duty.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested primarily by nightmares, intrusive thoughts of his wartime experiences, sleep impairment, poor eye contact, a restricted affect, social withdrawal, and a depressed mood. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of an increased 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted with an initial 30 percent disability rating. The RO denied service connection for the other conditions, but found new and material evidence to reopen claims for eye disorder and right testicle removal.

The Board granted service connection for a skin disorder of the legs, torso, and arms due to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for PTSD was denied as new evidence did not present a verified stressor.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, and his residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder with small fracture of the acromion are also rated at 10 percent. The appeal involves both service connection issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no current medical diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence linking any claimed inservice stressors to his condition.

The veteran's overpayment of disability compensation was denied as the Board found that recovery would not be against the principles of equity and good conscience.