PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board has granted an effective date of June 18, 2001 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a stressor related to his active duty service and thus no basis for establishing service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as new evidence was submitted to reopen his claim.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board has determined that a 70 percent evaluation is warranted based on the evidence showing significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a nervous disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder, and for increased compensation for hemorrhoids have been denied. The effective date claim for the grant of service connection for hemorrhoids has also been denied.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 10 percent since May 1, 1997 and increased to 30 percent from August 10, 1999 to September 30, 1999.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% disability evaluation effective March 16, 1999. The RO denied the request for an earlier effective date and also denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of total occupational impairment, warranting a 100% rating. Service connection for an allergic reaction to bee stings was denied as there is no current disability related to the in-service incident.

The VA determined that the appellant's PTSD does not warrant a higher disability rating, maintaining it at 30 percent.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation of PTSD, finding that the criteria were not met.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected PTSD have been denied. The July 22, 1992 rating decision was not final as the veteran disagreed with it and did not receive a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected disabilities increased in severity during the year prior to July 9, 1998.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a nervous disorder, specifically Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The veteran's PTSD is due to his combat service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the RO needs to provide additional evidence and possibly a new examination to determine if an increased evaluation is warranted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in June 1989. The veteran's case will now be reviewed on its merits.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a VA mental disorders examination.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx from May 1, 1998 is denied. The RO increased his rating to 30 percent effective from May 1, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne and PTSD, finding that there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The chloracne claim was based on exposure to Agent Orange, while the PTSD claim did not have a combat-related stressor established.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend a scheduled video conference hearing. The RO will contact the veteran to determine if he is willing and able to report for the hearing.