PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in severe, but not total, social and occupational impairment since June 1, 1997. The RO granted a rating of 70 percent for the condition prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of the alleged in-service stressors and thus denying the claim.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since February 17, 2000. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period. Service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities was granted.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed in-service stressors have not been verified, and therefore, service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder cannot be established.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has dismissed the case as it does not have original jurisdiction to decide the eligibility for direct payment of a withheld contingency fee under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5904(d).

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for PTSD, dysthymic disorder, hair loss, fatigue, memory loss, and respiratory condition with chest pain are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus could not establish service connection for PTSD based on a stressor related to combat. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied because there was no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions, and the decision of June 22, 1987 did not contain such error.

The VA Regional Office denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his posttraumatic stress disorder (previously rated as anxiety and depressive neurosis).

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there was no medical evidence diagnosing PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as the evidence is in equipoise and the benefit of the doubt rule is applied.

The VA determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD related to active service, and thus the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is productive of total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% evaluation since January 6, 1996.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD, combined with other disabilities including a gunshot wound to the right foot and residuals of left orbit injury, are considered disabling enough to prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to a sexual assault during his service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was reopened and granted effective from February 10, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disability, finding that his symptoms were primarily due to a personality disorder rather than PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD is manifested by frequent nightmares, difficulties concentrating, hypervigilance, an exaggerated startle response and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. However, these symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right elbow, residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right thigh and foot with hypesthesia, and residuals of shrapnel wound to the left lower extremity.