PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board denied the claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that credible supporting evidence of a stressor to support the diagnosis was not shown.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder, hematoma of the left thigh, and head injury with post-concussion headaches. The appeals were based on service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The claim is well grounded, and a VA examination was recommended.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence presented since the December 1994 rating decision. The veteran's current symptoms of PTSD are related to his service in Vietnam, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The claim is well-grounded, but the veteran's reported stressors could not be verified, leading to denial of service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his treatment records and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia with PTSD features, effective from November 1, 1997. The earlier effective date of February 14, 1997, for the increased evaluation is also confirmed.

The VA denied the claim as there was no evidence linking the veteran's death to his service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's combined schedular evaluation for service-connected disabilities is 70 percent, which meets the threshold requirement for TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is plausible and sufficient evidence has been obtained, but it concluded that there is not at least as likely as not that the veteran has PTSD as a result of his service experience.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a noncompensable rating for dermatitis, finding that the veteran engaged in combat with enemy forces during his Vietnam service and provided sufficient evidence to support the occurrence of an inservice stressor. The compensable evaluation for dermatitis is denied as there is no exposed or extensive area affected.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during service and there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors. Therefore, the claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, finding no legal basis to do so.

The veteran's PTSD was restored to a 30 percent rating from July 1, 1992 to August 1, 1996 and is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and his claim for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is not well-grounded. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD, which is currently rated at 10 percent. The case has been remanded due to uncertainty regarding the extent of the veteran's PTSD symptoms and their relation to other disorders.

The VA Regional Office (RO) granted an increased disability rating of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective March 18, 1999. The RO confirmed a previous 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, PTSD, and back disability are denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a well-grounded claim for COPD due to Agent Orange exposure. However, the claims of PTSD and back disability were found to be well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating, reflecting considerable social and industrial impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms, including depression, hypervigilance, chronic anxiety, avoidance behavior, and sleep impairment, warrant a disability rating of 30 percent effective from March 17, 1998.