PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and found that a well-grounded claim exists. The veteran engaged in combat during his military service, which is sufficient to establish service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD from May 31, 1994 to August 13, 1997 and denied his claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD as of August 13, 1997. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to August 13, 1997.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, but his attempt to reopen a back disability claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the appellant's current psychiatric condition, including schizophrenia and PTSD, had its onset in service. The claim is granted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability evaluation for PTSD was denied as the earliest factually ascertainable date of increase in disability due to PTSD was November 13, 1995.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms, including severe depression and intrusive thoughts related to his wartime experiences, precluded him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment during the period February 21, 1996 to February 28, 1999. The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for this period.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The claim of service connection for a left hip disability is considered well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and there was no credible supporting evidence of a stressor related to service. Therefore, the claim for PTSD was denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased PTSD evaluations and TDIU due to insufficient evidence of unemployability.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination, as well as further development of verified stressors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are well-grounded, but have not met the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable VA rating schedule. The claim for reopening his back disability is denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to establish the occurrence of the claimed stressors and thus not meeting the requirement for service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 23, 1996, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The earliest possible date of entitlement was in December 1990 when the diagnosis was rule out PTSD.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD was granted, but the effective date remains in contention. The veteran also appealed the assignment of a higher disability rating prior to February 24, 1998.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 30, 1993 for the total rating assigned for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including substance abuse disorder, PTSD, gastrointestinal disorders, and psychiatric disorders. The decision also noted that no need for special monthly pension by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate was found.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and skin disability, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors for PTSD and that his claim for skin disability was not plausible.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and written statements from medical professionals who have diagnosed PTSD.