PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder and denied his claim for an increased disability evaluation for duodenal ulcer.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD, which was previously granted on July 11, 2001. The case has been remanded to the RO due to procedural issues related to notification under the VCAA.

The VA determined that the veteran does not currently have PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his alleged stressors during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with stressor verification and notification requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's accounts of mortar attacks and seeing several comrades wounded during service are consistent with his combat status. The case is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, have their onset during service or are causally related to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder warrants a 30 percent evaluation, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service in Vietnam exposed him to combat situations, which are sufficient to corroborate his reported stressors. The evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and establishes a link between current symptoms and his military service. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of back disability, schizophrenia, pes planus, allergies, PTSD, and left knee disability. The decision also determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his chronic lumbosacral muscle spasm, both of which were currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for obtaining medical records from VA Medical Center and Vet Center in Dayton, Ohio.

The Board granted a disability evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD effective from September 1, 1999 and entitlement to a TDIU effective from June 6, 1998. The veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to be primarily disabling due to its impact on his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's hospitalization for treatment of his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder was granted a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and degenerative disk disease of the lumbosacral spine, as well as his claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain. The issues are currently pending due to procedural errors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection, finding that his December 19, 2000 submission was the first formal or informal claim for this benefit.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating for the veteran's PTSD from 30 percent to 50 percent.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining new evidence to reopen a previously denied PTSD claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the currently assigned 50 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that the earliest claim was received on June 27, 1996.