PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The VA has granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD with bipolar disorder, effective from September 20, 1996. The veteran's conditions have resulted in severe occupational and social impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder, including an anxiety disorder, incurred in or aggravated by active service. The veteran's PTSD was not demonstrated to be caused by verified inservice stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a nervous disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, ruptured tympanic membranes, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a nervous disorder.

The veteran's heart condition was rated at 100% effective March 24, 2001. Separate ratings of 20% were assigned for peripheral vascular disease affecting the right and left upper and lower extremities as of January 14, 2000.

The veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD is pending. The RO will review the evidence and determine if new and material evidence has been submitted, which could result in either granting or denying the reopening of the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD symptoms did not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his impairment was within the range for a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board granted an effective date of November 1, 1994 for the award of a 100% disability rating for service-connected PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant/veteran, and therefore no decision was made on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent rating effective from March 5, 1999. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that no such condition was incurred in or aggravated by active service and that the service incurrence of psychosis may not be presumed.

The VA has assigned a 50 percent rating for the veteran's PTSD, reflecting moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of credible, supporting evidence of verified inservice stressors.

The Board found that the veteran knowingly presented false and fraudulent statements in support of his claims for service connection, leading to forfeiture of all VA benefits.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed stressors were unverified and denied his claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to discrepancies in the record and additional development is required.

The veteran's PTSD is productive of deficiencies in most areas and an inability to establish effective relationships, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for TMJ as secondary to PTSD, finding that the earliest medical evidence showing treatment for TMJ was in 1995 and that entitlement to secondary service connection did not arise until August 1999.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.