PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an increased rating beyond 50 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. An effective date of July 29, 1993, has been assigned for the award of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his PTSD, currently rated at 50 percent. The evidence shows significant occupational and social impairment but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is granted. However, his claims for higher ratings for multiple joint pain and hiatal hernia are denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show definite impairment warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 70 percent, and this decision confirms and continues that rating.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder and a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's claimed stressors did not occur during service, and thus could not establish a service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to service and grants this claim.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms which more nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating, including hallucinations, depression, hypervigilance, impaired impulse control, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and an inability to establish effective relationships. As such, a 70 percent rating for PTSD is warranted.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's physical injuries resulting from a fall in 1976, finding that these injuries were secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The rating assigned was 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and granted it. The veteran's skin condition is not service-connected due to lack of evidence, and his peripheral neuropathy is also not service-connected. The low back disability remains at a 40% evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD claim was not well-grounded due to insufficient verification of claimed stressors. The vision disorder claim was also denied as there were no objective indications of a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that there is no current medical diagnosis of PTSD and the veteran's reported stressors were not supported by credible evidence. Therefore, the claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied.

The veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now receiving a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected PTSD. However, the RO must ensure that this decision includes consideration of whether 'staged' ratings are appropriate based on the facts found.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent, based on current symptoms and GAF scores.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for cardiovascular disease (including hypertension) as secondary to PTSD was not well grounded, and thus denied it. The TDIU issue is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's PTSD effective from June 25, 1997.

The veteran's PTSD has been increased to a 50 percent rating, effective July 1998.