PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 50 percent, which is the current rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have a diagnosed PTSD and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, rib disability, and head disability. The claims for chronic foot infection, peripheral neuropathy, neck disability, and shoulder disability were reopened based on new evidence, but no service-connected disabilities are currently found.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for PTSD from March 4, 1992.

The VA denied an increased disability evaluation for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder has been rated at 50 percent since February 15, 2001. Prior to that date, the evaluation was denied.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent evaluation effective September 17, 1999. The veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in total social and occupational impairment since the date of his claim for increase, warranting a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective November 1, 2000. The veteran's appeal is now focused on whether he should have received this benefit prior to that date.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible schedular rating of 100 percent, effective June 1, 2002. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder warrants a 70 percent rating, effective prior to March 23, 1998.

The veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred during his active service, specifically due to combat experiences in Vietnam.

The veteran's claimed in-service stressors are not corroborated by credible supporting evidence, and the diagnoses of PTSD do not have a verified in-service stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on the merits of the case and not due to any presumption, reopening of a previously denied claim, or other special circumstances.

For the period from April 24, 1996 to January 11, 1999, the veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent disabling.,For the period from April 24, 1996 to June 9, 1999, and since June 10, 1999, the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 60 percent disabling.

The veteran's request for a hearing before an RO hearing officer was granted, and the case is now remanded to allow the veteran to have this hearing.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection for residuals of cold injury to the upper extremities is denied as there is no evidence of chronic disability in service or continuity of symptomatology thereafter. The Board grants service connection for residuals of cold injury to the lower extremities, but notes that not all symptoms are attributable to this condition. Service connection for dermatitis, to include skin disorder of allergic nature, is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee injury and PTSD due to lack of credible evidence supporting the veteran's claims.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnoses of PTSD were not supported by credible evidence showing an in-service stressor, and thus denied his claim for service connection.