PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is well-grounded and grants the claim based on direct evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's stressors are supported by competent medical evidence, and his claim is well grounded.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, and his claim for service connection for skin cancer as secondary to Agent Orange exposure was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not well-grounded.

The Board granted service connection and a 70% rating for PTSD effective from May 17, 1995. A TDIU rating was also granted based on PTSD, but not earlier than this date.

The Board denied all claims for service connection, finding that the evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder. The chronic residuals of back injury and head injury were also not shown to be incurred in service. Plantar warts are not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence. Spinal meningitis is not supported by medical evidence.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent since September 30, 1991 and after November 7, 1996. The current evaluation is considered appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of severity.

The veteran's PTSD is granted, rated at 50 percent disabling. The neurological deficit in the right upper extremity is considered to be a manifestation of his service-connected post-operative cervical intervertebral disc syndrome and thus secondary to it. A separate compensable rating for tinnitus is assigned.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective January 18, 1996. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates a 70 percent rating under both old and new criteria for mental disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for galvanic poisoning, fibromyalgia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability related to these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's SLE may not be presumed to have been incurred during service, but reopened her claim for PTSD due to new evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the disability rating for PTSD from 100 percent to 70 percent was proper, and that the criteria for a 100 percent rating have not been satisfied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and pes planus, do not preclude him from participating in all types of substantially gainful employment due to his educational background and occupational experience.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an increased rating beyond 50 percent, and denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD from September 19, 1990 to July 15, 1991 and also denied the request for a retroactive effective date prior to September 19, 1990.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 4, 1994 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The veteran also had claims for a higher initial disability rating for PTSD and TDIU which were not addressed in this decision.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent, based on symptoms consistent with the current 50 percent disability evaluation criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a back injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.