PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board has granted an effective date of February 6, 2001 for the grant of a 50 percent rating for PTSD. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability was denied.

The Board has increased the rating for PTSD from 50 to 70 percent, finding that the veteran experiences significant occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as depression, suicidal ideation, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and an inability to establish effective relationships.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted based on her diagnosed condition resulting from inservice sexual harassment, assault, and rape.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and his claim for an increased rating has been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation due to the current level of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The reopened claim will be further developed, but a grant of the reopened claim is not warranted at this time without additional required development.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability, chronic sleep disturbances, and social isolation, resulting in moderate to severe social and occupational impairment. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating are met.

The Board has found that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service and grants the claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for his claimed in-service stressor, and because he did not engage in combat with the enemy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service stressor and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD, the highest rating available under the applicable criteria.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent evaluation, which is the maximum rating available under current VA regulations.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since the date of grant of service connection, and he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which grants an increased rating for his disability.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as memory deficits, disorientation, nightmares, frequent awakening, anxiety and panic attacks less than once per week, cognitive impairment not necessarily attributable to PTSD, 'mild' impairment due to PTSD. The RO assigned a 30 percent rating for the disorder.

The veteran's case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a personal hearing before a Member of the Board at the RO. If the veteran does not appear or withdraws his request, the case will be returned to the Board.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection for PTSD and back injuries, as well as reopening of a claim for sinusitis, rhinitis and a deviated nasal septum were denied. The veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that a claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to service-connected conditions, and denied compensation under U.S.C.A. § 1151 for VA medical treatment.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be so disabling as to render him unable to care for his daily personal needs or protect himself from the hazards and dangers of daily living, without regular assistance.