PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% evaluation effective March 1, 2001. Service connection for a back disorder and skin condition were denied.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent rating, but the veteran is seeking a higher initial rating.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of verified stressor. The issue of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability is pending and not resolved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed PTSD was incurred during his active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the 1967 and 1969 rating decisions denying service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 100% disability evaluation, effective February 9, 2000. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating of epilepsy and service connection for PTSD. The decision also confirmed a previous denial of an increased rating for epilepsy, maintaining the current 20% disability evaluation.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation due to his bilateral frozen feet, PTSD and right thigh gunshot wound disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim should be characterized as entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying inservice stressors.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms, including anxiety, depression, anger, and sleep problems, have rendered him unemployable since November 7, 1995. He also had a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and experienced a myocardial infarction during VA treatment in October and November 1996.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was denied as not well grounded. The RO granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50% rating, effective from April 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify stressors and obtain additional medical records, including from VA facilities where the veteran received treatment. The goal is to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain the veteran's service medical records and any relevant private treatment records. They are also asked to verify a reported stressor involving bagging and transporting dead bodies during his service in Vietnam. The veteran should be provided with a VA psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD is present and related to an inservice stressor.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records from SSA and Loma Linda VAMC.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent disabling, effective from February 1994. The Board also found that the veteran was not individually unemployable due to service-connected disability prior to March 12, 1996 and a total rating based on individual unemployability is precluded thereafter.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for ulcers, granted service connection for duodenal ulcers with a 10 percent disability rating, but denied an increased rating for hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for defective hearing in the right ear and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The appeals are both denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and a back disability. The VA has remanded the case due to new laws requiring additional development of evidence.