PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right eye and for residuals of a fracture of the great toe. The evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under VA guidelines for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 70 percent rating, effective October 6, 1999. The right ankle disability claim was denied.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to associated symptoms, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective from March 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his symptoms did not significantly impair his occupational and social functioning.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, effective from February 2000. The veteran also meets criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD produces severe social and industrial impairment, but does not meet the criteria for a higher schedular rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux, and synovitis of the left knee, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, his claim for TDIU is granted.

The veteran's PTSD has caused total occupational and social impairment since May 19, 1997. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for the period from May 19, 1997 to December 5, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to a lack of verified in-service stressors and combat involvement.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD due to disease or injury incurred in service, as there is no evidence of such during his active duty and no verified stressors related to his Vietnam service.

The veteran failed to respond to VA requests for information and evidence, as well as scheduled examinations. As a result, his claims have been deemed abandoned.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and thus his lay statements about in-service stressors could not be used to establish them. The evidence does not support the occurrence of an in-service stressor, and therefore service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed PTSD is a result of his Vietnam service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 50 percent prior to January 5, 2001 or a current evaluation in excess of 70 percent. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling effective from January 5, 2001.

The RO denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted evidence did not provide a diagnosis or link between an in-service stressor and PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted a 100 percent schedular rating for the veteran's PTSD, finding that his condition raises a reasonable doubt as to whether it is productive of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no diagnosed condition and no credible evidence of an inservice stressor.