PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for prostatitis, finding that the veteran's experiences as a merchant ship guard during World War II provided sufficient stressors to meet the criteria for PTSD. The veteran is also entitled to a higher disability rating for his prostatitis.

The VA Regional Office denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case is being remanded to schedule a personal hearing before a member of the Board at the RO.

The veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to February 11, 1986 was granted by the RO. The effective date of this grant is pending further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is well-grounded and remanded to allow further development of evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record and readjudication, including a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination to determine the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his disabilities, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support a well-grounded claim for residuals of left great toe injury. The RO granted service connection for residuals of excision of right spermatocele but did not assign any rating due to lack of medical evidence showing a nexus between the current disability and service. For status post umbilical hernia repair, the Board found that there was no objective evidence supporting a higher than zero percent rating. Regarding PTSD, the Board concluded that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 50 percent or higher rating.

The Board has reviewed the attorney fees stipulated in a June 1996 agreement and found them excessive and unreasonable, reducing them to zero. The veteran's attorney received $3411.00 under EAJA following a remand by the Court, while the fee contract provided for a 30% contingent fee on past-due benefits.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric condition to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied as the disability is currently manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including disturbed sleep, flashbacks and nightmares about Vietnam, 'incomplete' panic attacks, obsessional rituals, impaired judgment and concentration, a very restricted affect, lack of spontaneous speech, complaints of feeling forgetful, anxiety, problems with impulse control, paranoid and defensive ideation, homicidal feelings, and difficulty working with his co-workers.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder warrants a 50 percent disability rating, reflecting considerable occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for PTSD, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is denied because there is no credible supporting evidence that verifies any of the claimed in-service stressors.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, an increase from the previous 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is now productive of total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity and specific symptoms attributable to his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of January 27, 1996 for a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD and TDIU.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted due to the presence of a diagnosis and medical evidence linking his current PTSD to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining records of therapy sessions and VA treatment since April 1996. A VA psychiatric examination will be conducted to determine the extent and severity of his PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective August 21, 1992.