PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating. As a result of this high disability rating, his claim for individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities is moot.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD effective from November 7, 1996 and prior to that date. The appellant's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for PTSD is not well grounded because there is no diagnosis of PTSD in the record and the veteran himself acknowledges he has never been told he has PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 7, 1994 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted. The effective date is set at January 30, 1992.

The veteran abandoned his claims for service connection due to failure to respond to requests for information and evidence, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran did not have PTSD due to a verified stressor and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for a depressive disorder with tension headaches and PTSD is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination report, which did not provide sufficient explanation of the significance of the GAF score. The case will be returned to the RO for further development including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for a higher rating of 70 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder, reopened his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and found that new evidence supports reopening his claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial in January 1985. The claim is now considered, but the decision on whether PTSD was incurred in service or related to any events of service remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches as a result of an undiagnosed illness and PTSD, finding no medical evidence linking the conditions to service. The veteran's claims were not well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was not well-grounded due to a lack of medical evidence diagnosing PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for ADD and PTSD, as well as an increased rating for the veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability. The claims were found to be not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a low back injury, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to her military service. The claim for reopening of the low back injury was granted but found not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a skin disorder claimed as a residual of exposure to Agent Orange, but continues to deny this claim. Service connection for PTSD is also denied due to insufficient verification of stressors.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's PTSD effective April 21, 1999. Prior to that date, the evidence showed symptoms consistent with a 50 percent rating.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD and found the veteran's back disability secondary to her left ankle fracture. The claim of service connection for a back disability is also granted.

The Board has confirmed the denial of the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The case is now pending on whether new evidence can be submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating greater than 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board is remanding the veteran's claims for PTSD, increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus with status postoperative repair, and extension of a temporary total convalescence rating beyond June 30, 1996. The RO must obtain additional medical records and review the record to identify any coexisting foot disabilities not already service-connected.