PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the RO for obtaining clinical records and hospital summaries from the Alabama Dept. of Mental Health and Mental Retardation North Alabama Regional Hospital.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms, including nightmares, estrangement from others, sleep difficulties, anger outbursts, concentration problems, and hypervigilance, have caused significant occupational and social impairment warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The case is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and development of evidence. The veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not yet fully developed.

The VA granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD and assigned a TDIU effective February 11, 2001. The veteran's claim was based on the merits of his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that new and material evidence had been received since his prior denial in December 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to insufficient detail provided by the veteran regarding his claimed stressors.

The veteran's PTSD was manifested by transient symptoms during the period from January 7, 2000 to his death on February [redacted], 2001. The VA determined that these symptoms were not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal is to determine if he should receive a higher disability rating for his service-connected PTSD. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of a VA examination and obtaining treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal on the issue of service connection for residuals of shell fragment wounds to the left lower extremity due to the appellant's request for withdrawal.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD from February 16, 2001 to March 31, 2003. However, it granted a 50 percent evaluation for the period prior to February 16, 2001.

The Board found that the evidence received since the December 1997 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hypertension, bilateral knee disability, and right wrist disorder. They also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen claims of service connection for low back and left wrist disabilities.

The veteran's PTSD is attributable to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent effective December 28, 1998. It was increased to 50 percent effective November 27, 1998 and to 70 percent effective September 1, 1999.,Effective February 16, 2001, the veteran received a temporary total rating for PTSD until July 15, 2001. Effective July 16, 2001, he was granted a permanent and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a verified in-service stressor and thus could not establish service connection for PTSD. The claim was denied.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a psychiatric examination. The appeal is currently remanded to allow for this development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in July 1993. The veteran is now entitled to de novo review of his PTSD claim.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 100% disability rating, effective January 20, 2000. The veteran's original claim of entitlement to PTSD was denied in November 1986 due to the lack of evidence supporting the diagnosis of PTSD at that time. He filed another claim in January 2000 and provided new medical evidence indicating he had PTSD as a result of his service in Vietnam.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent rating, but denied service connection for the chronic genitourinary disorder. The veteran's PTSD alone results in total occupational and social impairment.