PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service personal assault incident and thus no basis to establish a stressor related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's PTSD does not manifest occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus denying an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The VA has granted an increased rating for the appellant's PTSD from 10 percent to 50 percent, effective October 30, 1996.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent effective from November 16, 1989. The RO increased the evaluation to 50 percent in February 1998.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for a prostate disability and denied an increased rating for perforated tympanic membranes. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder due to new evidence, but it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 100 percent, reflecting total occupational impairment.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent since May 2001, with a previous rating of 10 percent prior to that date.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation by reason of need for regular aid and attendance or being permanently housebound.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's PTSD, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for this rating based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board found that new evidence submitted by the veteran did not constitute material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a higher evaluation, as his symptoms are only mildly disabling and do not meet the criteria for a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the veteran's depressive disorder did not exist during service or be causally related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board is reopening the claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence submitted by the veteran. The issue of whether the veteran's other service-connected disabilities warrant increased ratings will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claim for PTSD has been submitted, thus allowing the veteran's claim to be reopened.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to January 26, 1998. Since then, his symptoms have not warranted a higher evaluation.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the maximum available evaluation of 100 percent, representing total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD due to new evidence submitted. However, it was not able to establish a direct link between his military service and PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD results in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.