PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, but reopened his claim based on new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a nervous disorder and PTSD, finding that new evidence did not constitute material to reopen her claim. The Board also determined that her PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 1996 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and his increased PTSD rating. The veteran was awarded a 70% evaluation for PTSD, effective from August 1996.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to April 11, 1997. From April 11, 1997 to September 25, 1998, the rating was increased to 70 percent. The effective date for this increase is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD, as his claimed stressors are supported by credible evidence and there is a link between his current symptoms and his in-service experiences.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, characterized as variously anxiety reaction, mixed psychoneurosis, and paranoid schizophrenia, is currently in remission and does not interfere with occupational or social functioning. The VA examiner found no evidence of current symptoms that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service-connection for PTSD due to lack of verifiable stressors and the absence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the underlying claim on the merits.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is manifested by symptoms of nightmares, anger, social isolation, anxiety and depression resulting in considerable impairment of social and industrial adaptability. The VA has granted a 30 percent rating for the disability.

The VA has determined that the veteran's somatization disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 10, 2002. The Board found that the schedular criteria for a 100 percent rating are met under the criteria in effect prior to November 7, 1996, as the veteran is unable to obtain or retain employment due to PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD due to an inservice stressor and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's TDIU was granted effective from August 18, 1999 due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent since the effective date of service connection.

The veteran was granted a 100% disability rating for his post-traumatic stress disorder effective August 25, 2000. This decision addresses the earlier effective date of this increased evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and did not find new and material evidence to reopen claims for personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not support entitlement to such a date, and the decision is based on the date of receipt of his request to reopen the claim in November 1992.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a higher evaluation to 50 percent, but his claims for stomach and skin cancers were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that the claim was received more than a year after his discharge from active duty and assigned as of December 27, 1996.