PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, fibromyalgia, and PTSD. The claim for depression was reopened but not granted as well-grounded. The rating for hemorrhoids remains at noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a statement of the case regarding the denial of service connection for PTSD. The veteran is entitled to a statement of the case and further development.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection and a 100 percent rating for PTSD is March 22, 1994.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is not manifested by symptoms that warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service stressor, despite the veteran providing his account and having some VA medical records diagnosing PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, resulting in a denial of reopening but not necessarily denying the underlying claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating beyond the current 50 percent assigned, as his symptoms do not warrant a 70 percent evaluation based on occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found no competent medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for kidney stones, service connection for gallstones, bronchitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), as well as reopening of his claims for neck pain with radiculopathy into the back and shoulders due to degenerative arthritis and headaches.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for PTSD benefits, finding that no NOD was received within one year of the initial denial. The effective date remains April 8, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 22, 1997 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The RO correctly assigned this effective date as it was the date the claim was received.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's PTSD, effective from March 9, 1999. The disability is characterized by multiple weekly nightmares, increased startle response, panic and anxiety attacks, social isolation, depression, difficulty concentrating, impaired memory, and some suicidal and homicidal ideation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 20, 1998 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and for the residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right neck and the right and left knees. The RO assigned an effective date of April 20, 1998.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence. However, the claim was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his anxiety disorder and duodenal ulcer, as well as service connection for abdominal aneurysm, back disorder, tinnitus, and PTSD. The RO evaluated these conditions at their current assigned rates.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent.

The Board found no clear diagnosis of PTSD or one in accordance with DSM-IV, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has found that the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is well-grounded and granted the claim.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as he did not timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.