PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD has resulted in moderate to considerable social and industrial impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy while serving in Vietnam, and thus his PTSD is not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that there was insufficient evidence to meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD and a combined 100% disability evaluation.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since July 1, 2001. The arthritis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent effective from April 23, 1993. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation from October 7, 1996 to December 21, 2000 under either the pre-November 7, 1996 or revised regulations.

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating. The claim for TDIU is denied as the veteran already receives a 100 percent schedular evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressor events in service. Therefore, PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of PTSD, which was previously denied in November 1994. The veteran's stressors have not been verified as a 'stressor' that produced PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% disabling, and his diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure during service is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, chloracne, and a skin rash other than chloracne due to herbicide exposure. The veteran's claimed in-service stressors were not substantiated, and there is no credible supporting evidence that the current conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder is currently productive of no more than occupational and social impairment, with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by depression, recurrent anxiety attacks, intrusive thoughts, disturbances of motivation, nightmares, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The evaluation for PTSD remains at 50 percent.

The veteran's PTSD and lumbar spine fracture are service-connected, but the RO has already granted a 60% evaluation for his lumbar spine fracture. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. The effective date for TDIU benefits remains at September 18, 1998.

The veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating from January 1, 2002.

The veteran's clinical signs and manifestations of PTSD have resulted in no more than social and occupational impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks, social isolation, and depression. The criteria for an increased schedular rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD are not met.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD and right knee sprain do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, with the current ratings of 30 percent for PTSD and noncompensable for right knee sprain being maintained.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the veteran's PTSD, finding that his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.