PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 29, 1997 for a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD with dysthymia.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent disabling, and the Board has granted a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD. However, as he already receives a schedular evaluation of 100 percent for his PTSD, he cannot be awarded TDIU.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from March 1993. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his claimed stressors did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of combat involvement and insufficient corroborated evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there were no verified in-service stressors and he did not engage in combat.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment during the period from July 15, 1997 to April 12, 1999.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective from June 1993 to November 7, 1996, and thereafter. The veteran's disability picture during this period included hallucinations, gross inappropriate behavior, and exhibited danger in hurting himself or others.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as there was no credible evidence of a verified in-service stressor and the medical opinions did not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating of greater than 70 percent since January 23, 1998.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD effective from September 13, 2001. The appellant's symptoms include depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, suspiciousness, avoidance of others, workaholism, an inability to adapt to stressful circumstances, impaired concentration, disturbances of mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has found that this evaluation is appropriate given the mild or transient symptoms of PTSD.

The Board found that the May 1980 decision not to infer a claim for service connection for PTSD or other psychiatric disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD, since granted service connection, results in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as depression, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks. This results in moderate social and occupational impairment, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, impotence, residuals of a shell fragment wound above the right eye, and chronic residuals of head injury and skin disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The veteran's claims for these disabilities are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and PTSD, on a direct and secondary basis. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or a nexus to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is granted, as there is credible supporting evidence confirming a mortar attack by Viet Cong during his time in Vietnam.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the veteran did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment at any time since the effective date of service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have burn scars of the hands linked to service and denied his claim for PTSD.