PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board has ordered further development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete verification of stressors. The case is remanded for additional medical evaluations, stressor verification, and other necessary steps.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a skin disorder, and a prostate disorder. The issues of reopening claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been addressed.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation, effective from April 21, 1997.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting another VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 15, 2001 for a 50 percent evaluation of his PTSD. The effective date was set at February 15, 2001 based on the first clinical evidence meeting the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including schizophrenia. The veteran submitted new and material evidence in the form of a statement from Dr. Jose A. Juarbe indicating that his schizophrenia had its onset while he was on active duty in the military or at least experienced prodromal symptoms during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, are well grounded and remanded to allow for additional development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective May 7, 2001. The veteran's donor site scar of the left anterior thigh was also granted service connection with an initial 10 percent evaluation as of July 14, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warranted a 100 percent evaluation for the time period from June 14, 1993 to August 26, 1994.

The Board found that the March 1976 decision denying service connection for a nervous condition is final. The medical reports dated August 15, 1988, and September 1988 do not constitute informal claims for service connection for alcohol dependence secondary to PTSD. There was no clear and unmistakable error in the rating decisions of June 8, 1989, and August 7, 1989, regarding the PTSD rating. The RO did not commit clear and unmistakable error in its November 1982 decision assigning a 30% rating for PTSD. The veteran's shell fragment wound of the left lower leg and foot was evaluated at 30% from April 30, 1992 to February 2, 1998, and at 40% from February 3, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD, injuries to the right upper extremity including shell fragment wound scar, and scars on the right thigh and left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to changes in the law and need for additional notification or development action.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD, which meets the criteria for reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as panic attacks more than once a week and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD must be remanded due to potential service connection for alcohol and drug abuse as secondary to PTSD. The RO should address this inferred claim before proceeding with the decision on the original issue.

The Board denied an appeal of the initial rating for PTSD in excess of 30 percent prior to August 23, 1994 and a higher than 50 percent rating from August 23, 1994.

The veteran's PTSD symptomatology was not productive of more than definite social and industrial impairment prior to August 23, 1994. Therefore, an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from November 6, 1992 through August 22, 1994 is not warranted.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of 'staged' ratings. The case will be reviewed in light of any additional evidence.

The RO granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent disability evaluation, effective from December 10, 1996. In a June 2000 rating decision, the RO increased the rating to 70 percent.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of his claim.