PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The veteran is requesting an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD, which is currently rated at 50 percent. The RO has requested additional development to determine the current level of severity and any other relevant factors.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating, due to total occupational and social impairment caused by persistent delusions or hallucinations and a persistent danger of hurting self or others.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is not productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, frequent panic attacks, impaired memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work relationships.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in anxiety, depression, suicidal and homicidal ideations, irritability, sleep impairment, nightmares, flashbacks, social isolation, some hallucinations, and a demonstrable inability to obtain or retain employment.,Right ear hearing loss is currently rated at Level X. Tinnitus has been rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors. The claim for a skin disorder, including as due to exposure to Agent Orange, was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and residuals of pneumonia due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD and did not show that the veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of symptomatology resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent evaluation. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, the highest rating available. The Board also found that the veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD and granted a TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of submitting new and material evidence to reopen his PTSD claim, as there was no current diagnosis provided.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in severe social and occupational impairment, resulting in a 100 percent rating since October 3, 2000.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's PTSD, which was initially granted in April 1996 with a 10 percent disability evaluation. The case has been remanded multiple times due to procedural issues and development needs.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD had increased in severity on December 13, 2000, and he was demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment. Therefore, an effective date of December 13, 2000, for a 100% rating for PTSD has been granted.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as incurred in service due to inservice stressors and diagnosed conditions.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that it renders him unable to obtain or retain employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective from May 1998.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for post-traumatic stress disorder were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not perfect his appeal of a previous June 1996 rating decision denying service connection, making that decision final. Therefore, no effective date prior to January 2, 1998, could be assigned.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by nightmares and flashbacks of Vietnam, social isolation, and results in total occupational and social impairment. The Board finds that the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD have been met.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.