PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for PTSD due to the submission of new and material evidence, including VA outpatient treatment and examination reports from the Veterans Center in Charlotte.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD, a low back condition, a right knee disability, and tinnitus as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD and right ankle sprain with degenerative changes were not granted increased ratings, while the residuals of SFW to the right thigh received a non-compensable evaluation.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from August 22, 2001. The RO also granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability starting December 27, 2001. No new hearing loss rating was assigned.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a grant of 100% evaluation for partial complex seizures was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been averaging at least one major seizure per month over the last year.,For PTSD, the RO found that entitlement to increased evaluations prior to September 20, 1999 did not arise until then. The veteran's PTSD has been productive of no more than slight social and industrial impairment since February 14, 1995, warranting a 10% evaluation.,Since September 20, 1999, the veteran's PTSD has been productive of definite impairment, warranting a 30% evaluation. The veteran's headaches/dizziness/lightheadedness have not warranted an increased evaluation beyond 10%.,The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date for his partial complex seizures and denied this claim.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible evaluation of 100 percent.,For his shell fragment wound to the lumbar region, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 70 percent, based on his current symptomatology.

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer from PTSD and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The back injury and degenerative joint disease of multiple joints are also not established as service-connected.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since February 16, 2000. Prior to that date, the disability was not found to warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD has rendered him unable to obtain or maintain employment since the initial grant of service connection, warranting a 100 percent disability evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with headaches and cold injury residuals of the feet, are considered to be so severe as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has been manifested by symptoms resulting in no more than occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for a schizoaffective disorder, finding that the veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by his military service. The claim for PTSD is denied as there is no accepted medical diagnosis of this condition.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and residuals of a right ring finger injury were denied as they are not related to any in-service events or stressors. The VA determined that the veteran did not engage in combat, and there is no credible evidence supporting his claimed in-service stressors.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service stressor and thus insufficient to establish a link between current symptoms and a claimed in-service event.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, which will now be considered on its merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is attributable to service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence submitted since the last final denial supports this claim.