PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a finding that the appellant engaged in combat with the enemy during his Vietnam service, which is sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD as a result of exposure to traumatic events during Desert Storm, including Scud attacks and warnings.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as it results in definite social and industrial impairment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for the residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right chest, pleural cavity injury with retained foreign body. The veteran's conditions are primarily due to nonservice-connected emphysema and COPD.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD prior to April 12, 1999 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation of his service-connected PTSD was denied. The RO had previously granted service connection and assigned a 30 percent evaluation, which was later increased to 50 percent effective as of September 1998.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that it is related to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran meets some, though not all, of the rating criteria for a 50 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9411 for his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that he does not meet the criteria for this diagnosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service stressors.

The veteran's claim for PTSD service connection is denied as there is no confirmed inservice stressor. The claim for an increased evaluation of the thoracic spine residuals is also denied, with the current rating being considered appropriate.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a higher rating due to symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity, but without gross impairment in thought processes or communication.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a temporary total hospitalization rating from June 7, 1999; a schedular 100 percent rating from July 1, 1999; a temporary total hospitalization rating from September 8, 1999; and a 50 percent rating from November 1, 1999. The veteran is seeking an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as for peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, and peripheral vascular disease, all of which were deemed not related to service.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for PTSD was denied, and his temporary total rating claim for hospitalization from October 13, 1998 to November 3, 1998 was also denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the appellant's reported stressor (rape during service) is verified and whether she meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary steps are taken.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work and family relations, judgment, thinking or mood due to symptoms like near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently. The veteran is precluded from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment as a result of his service connected disabilities.

The veteran's PTSD was manifested by chronic anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, depression, problems with concentration and attention deficits, and GAF score of 50 from August 15, 1997 to August 3, 1998. The disability evaluation for PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating during this period.

The veteran meets the schedular criteria for a 100 percent rating from December 21, 1998 forward due to total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent effective March 1997, and he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.