PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeal for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them. The claim for dental disability was also denied as it is only for treatment purposes, not compensation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, with the diagnosis based on his reported combat experiences in Vietnam.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent should be granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent evaluation, effective from when his service-connected psychiatric disability was previously rated at 50 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of PTSD and service connection for heart disease and duodenal ulcer disease secondary to PTSD have been granted.

The veteran's PTSD was granted an increased evaluation to 30 percent, effective from April 1987. The other conditions were not granted increased evaluations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his PTSD records and a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his condition during the specified period.

The veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was not timely filed, and thus the decision is dismissed.

The VA has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial 50 percent rating effective from October 26, 1992. The veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 1994. However, due to the grant of a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD, his claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability is rendered moot and must be dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no medical evidence linking her current depressive disorder to service.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for the veteran's PTSD, finding that his symptoms are mild and do not warrant a higher rating. The claim for service connection for residuals of herniated nucleus pulposus secondary to seizure disorder is also granted.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder qualifies for reimbursement of unauthorized private hospital care due to the emergent nature of his chest pain, which was initially suspected as a heart attack. The nearest VA medical facility was not feasibly available at the time.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent evaluation, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities include a severe pleural cavity injury, an injury to Muscle Group I, and PTSD. The RO denied increased evaluations for these conditions but granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 80%.

The veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment both prior to October 1, 1998, and from that date onward. The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD in both instances.

The VA has denied the veteran's request for an evaluation greater than 70 percent for his PTSD, finding that a 70 percent rating most closely approximates his current disability level.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was denied multiple times, and the effective date of his award is set at June 11, 1997.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent.