PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a higher rating for his left leg burn scar. The appeal for PTSD was reopened on new evidence, but the claim remains denied.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 13, 1998.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD effective from July 28, 2001.

The veteran's PTSD has improved with treatment, but still causes some impairment. The RO denied a higher rating and TDIU claim.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder, effective from the date of claim. The ratings for right and left carpal tunnel syndromes remain at 30 and 20 percent respectively, with no change in the rating for postural vasovagal syncope.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder other than PTSD did not originate or suffer aggravation in service, nor is it due to disease or injury in service. The RO denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder on both direct and secondary bases.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his reported in-service stressors and thus denying his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected PTSD, finding that his dementia due to Huntington's disease rendered any PTSD symptoms not evident as a cause of his debilitating psychiatric symptoms.

The veteran's appeal is about an increased rating for PTSD and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The case has been remanded to the RO for further development, including consideration under both the former and revised versions of the rating schedule.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 4, 2000. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The veteran's appeal of the issue of service connection for PTSD was dismissed because a timely substantive appeal had not been received.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for PTSD is being remanded to allow for additional development of his medical records and an updated VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100% evaluation, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder with PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that this does not warrant an increased rating. The veteran has one service-connected disability and is not considered unemployable due to his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his post-traumatic stress disorder and gunshot wound, muscle group VIII, left forearm. The veteran was awarded a 30 percent rating for his gunshot wound in May 2000.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional service medical records, personnel records, and psychiatric evaluations. The case will be remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a nexus between his claimed conditions and active service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) affirmed the previous denials of service connection for PTSD in a May 1999 decision. The case was remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further efforts to obtain credible evidence supporting the veteran's description of his stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and for additional development in order to consider whether inservice exposure to mustard gas contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left great toe injury residuals, an increased evaluation for PTSD, and a compensable evaluation for umbilical hernia repair residuals. The RO is directed to obtain relevant VA treatment records and contact the National Archives for Coast Guard station logs.