PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in severe symptoms, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old or revised regulations.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the RO has requested a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The new evidence presented includes a VA medical opinion linking the veteran's diagnosis of chronic paranoid schizophrenia to a nervous condition he reported having in service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that the veteran's claimed in-service stressors are not combat-related and have been corroborated by other evidence. The veteran was exposed to stressful events while working as a helicopter mechanic in Thailand during his active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism and drug dependence have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD was dismissed because he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeals were limited to reopening existing claims, not resolving the merits of the service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, and the RO has granted a higher rating of 100 percent for total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was initially filed in 1984, but the RO considered it abandoned due to non-response and failure to appear for examinations. The claim was reopened in September 2000 with new evidence supporting PTSD, leading to a grant of service connection effective from September 27, 1995. The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD effective February 9, 2000. However, the veteran's symptoms have worsened since then, warranting an increased to 70 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for both PTSD and tinnitus. The evidence showed no current disability, and the VA examinations indicated that the veteran's symptoms were inconsistent with the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented. The veteran was diagnosed with schizophrenia rather than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and changes in the law, requiring additional development of records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected PTSD does not warrant a schedular disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent.

The veteran's appeal is for an increased evaluation of his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder, currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has determined that additional development is required to properly evaluate the disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 3, 1994, for a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD and found that there was no finding of permanency of total disability.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and examination, including a mental disorders and headache examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder with PTSD and headaches is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports, the need for additional medical records, and the requirement of a new VA psychiatric examination.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.