PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and other procedural requirements. The claim for service connection for PTSD will be readjudicated, including review of evidence submitted at the July 2000 hearing.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right foot and assigned an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder. The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for fractures of the left foot was also denied.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims due to lack of timely substantive appeal for issues related to undiagnosed illnesses.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently manifested by chronic and serious symptoms, including social isolation, nightmares, anxiety, anger, and total occupational and social impairment. The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim is granted.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as paranoia, sleeplessness, social isolation, suicidal ideation, an inability to get along with others, flashbacks, and nightmares about Vietnam. The criteria for a 100 percent evaluation have been met.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 50 percent evaluation effective September 30, 1998. The RO also increased the evaluation for PTSD from 30 to 50 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of PTSD. The propriety of initial evaluations for calluses of both feet remains under review.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being reopened due to the submission of new evidence, but the Board finds that this evidence alone is not sufficient to grant service connection as there are no verified stressors. The VA has provided information from CRUR confirming two events in Vietnam where the veteran was exposed to attacks, and he testified about these events during his hearing. However, the current criteria for diagnosing PTSD require a detailed account of the stressor event.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The veteran's anxiety disorder is deemed to be linked to his active wartime service. Therefore, service connection for chronic anxiety disorder is granted.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% due to substantial social and occupational impairment. The prostate cancer rating has been reduced from 100% to 20%, but the veteran appeals for restoration of the 100% rating. The voiding dysfunction issue remains in appellate status.

The veteran's service-connected vascular disease caused his death, and he is therefore entitled to benefits resulting from the cause of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that it was not well grounded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a kidney and prostate disorder. The new evidence supports this reopening, as it indicates that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection is granted for residuals of a cold injury and PTSD and depression. However, service connection cannot be established for arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with herniated nucleus pulposus due to lack of medical evidence demonstrating an in-service event or chronic condition.

The Board granted an increased rating for the veteran's residuals of a traumatic head injury to 10 percent effective May 1, 1996. The earlier effective date claim was also granted, with TDIU being effective February 22, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD, finding that neither the old nor new criteria for rating psychiatric disabilities are more favorable to the veteran.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of considerable social and industrial impairment, but not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which has not changed since the initial grant of service connection in May 1995. The disability continues to be manifested by anger and a reduced ability to establish effective work and social relationships.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent evaluation, which is higher than the initial 10 percent assigned in his May 1998 rating decision.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.