PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The VA determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, a genitourinary disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression. The claim for PTSD was denied as there were no verified in-service stressors.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting some occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV and insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to a claimed in-service stressor.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and prostatitis as a result of herbicides, finding that the veteran does not currently have these conditions or that they are not related to his active service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under current schedular criteria.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 50 percent for PTSD, effective from January 9, 1998. The veteran's symptoms include anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, anger and irritability, reliving of combat events, social withdrawal isolation, and sleep difficulties resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and determined that he has chronic sinusitis. The decision on whether to grant a compensable evaluation for his hearing loss is pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as he was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to reaching the age of 18, and therefore could not be recognized as a helpless child of his veteran father.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of December 16, 1998 for service connection of PTSD. The decision found that no new evidence was submitted and that the diagnosis of PTSD did not arise until December 16, 1998.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma, effective September 24, 2001.

The Board dismissed the appeal for restoration of a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD as it was not timely filed. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine whether there are any other relevant records that should be obtained.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining hospitalization records and a VA psychiatric examination to address the issues of service connection for PTSD and schizoaffective disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current skin condition, diagnosed as urticaria, had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as there is credible evidence of a verified in-service stressor and medical diagnosis linking the current condition to those events.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and right ankle sprain were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the bilateral hearing loss prior to June 10, 1999 or a rating in excess of 40 percent as of June 10, 1999. For PTSD and right ankle sprain, the RO found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder with associated sleep disturbance is as likely as not related to his military service in Southwest Asia, and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% disability rating for CFS is pending. The RO has awarded a 40% disability rating for CFS effective September 9, 2001.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was granted, but the rating remains at 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was denied as his requirement for assistance is due to non-service-connected back disability.