PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and did not grant service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU, finding that his PTSD alone did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's reported stressors and determine if he currently has disabilities resulting from the disorders claimed as service connected. The case is being remanded for further action.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to a request for a hearing and changes in the law. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to PTSD. His skin condition is considered to have been incurred during service, and his stomach disorder is determined to be related to PTSD. The veteran's PTSD remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for PTSD and a total rating based on unemployability, finding that the veteran's PTSD alone did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The VA Regional Office (RO) denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of evidence of verified stressors. The RO has been instructed to attempt to verify the reported stressors by sending information provided by the appellant to USASCRUR.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, cirrhosis of the liver, and diabetes mellitus. The claim to reopen the frostbite of the feet was also denied.

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

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The BVA found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any current disabilities and active military service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating under current criteria, due to severe social and industrial impairment.

PTSD symptoms resulted in definite industrial and social impairment from March 1995 to October 28, 1996, warranting a 30% rating.,PTSD symptoms began causing severe social and industrial impairment starting October 29, 1996, warranting a 70% rating.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to verified in-service stressors.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to regulatory changes and the need for a comprehensive review of his medical records, including a VA examination.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, mood swings, anger outbursts, feelings of detachment and isolation, depression, anxiety, nightmares, and recollections of experiences in Vietnam. This has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, rendering the veteran unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeals for an increased rating for a shell fragment wound of the left leg and service connection for PTSD were dismissed due to inadequate substantive appeal.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 6, 1994 for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The earlier effective dates are supported by evidence showing that the appellant was not employable prior to this date.

The veteran's PTSD and residuals of a left ankle fracture are rated at the maximum available. The chronic neck strain is granted with a 10 percent rating, but no increase in evaluation is granted. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is not addressed.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was granted, with a 10 percent disability rating effective from June 1997. The case is now remanded for further development regarding the validity of the stressors claimed by the veteran.