PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board determined that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus is not entitled to the presumptions under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b) (West 1991); 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f). The claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there was no verified stressor related to service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible level (100%), and he has other service-connected disabilities that render him unable to work. His hearing loss, hand injuries, shoulder injuries, ankle injury, wrist injury, and leg injury are all rated as they should be based on their severity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of a head injury, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the latter claim.

The veteran's appeal of the May 1993 rating decision denying an increased rating for PTSD is considered timely, and his earlier effective dates claims are remanded for further development. The claim for a higher schedular rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected, and denied both claims for service connection and Chapter 35 benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no verified stressor for PTSD, and the veteran did not have a compensable level of hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his military service, specifically his experiences in the Dominican Republic and Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is currently manifested by virtual isolation in the community, warranting a 100 percent evaluation as of May 23, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a gynecological disability manifested by an abnormal Papanicolaou (PAP) smear and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and his right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was already assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased evaluation, finding that there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim for service connection prior to January 4, 1991.

The veteran's PTSD has caused total occupational impairment throughout the appeal period due to severe, near-continuous anxiety and depression that affects cognitive function; extreme irritability, angry outbursts, and lapses in concentration and memory are also shown.

The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by symptoms such as sleep disturbances, nightmares, problems being around crowds, and concentration difficulties. However, he has some reduced reliability and productivity but no spatial disorientation or inability to establish effective relationships.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 50 percent since March 22, 2000. The RO granted an increased evaluation for his PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for disc herniation, L5-S1 and an initial disability rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD.

The veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to exposure to combat-related stressors during his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in August 1994. The veteran's request is granted.