PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and continued a noncompensable evaluation for left shoulder injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and notification in accordance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total convalescent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 based on outpatient treatment in May 1999 due to lack of severe postoperative residuals.

The Board finds that the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a head injury is not established, and his PTSD is currently evaluated at 50 percent. The current evaluation most closely aligns with the veteran's disability picture.

The Board found that the veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability is not permanent due to his refusal of treatment for alcohol abuse, which is necessary for improvement.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have PTSD and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects and insufficient evidence, including a lack of notification about the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claim involves an apportionment of his VA compensation benefits, which is considered a 'simultaneously contested claim.'

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, with significant occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The pleural scarring remains at a noncompensable (zero) rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of current disability and no in-service stressor consistent with his combat experiences.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied due to his obesity and chronic polyarthritis, which exceeded the maximum allowable number of 'debits'. The case is being remanded to adjudicate secondary service connection claims.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted as his claimed stressor was related to combat during active duty, and he has an acceptable medical diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The appeal is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's withdrawal of his case.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD effective October 20, 1999. The veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by symptoms that are productive of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD, finding that entitlement arose after one year of discharge and no formal or informal claim was received within this period.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to an in-service shooting and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that an effective date of July 18, 1995 is warranted for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's original claim was pending and denied in 1995 due to a prior administrative decision finding his discharge from service barred VA benefits. A subsequent administrative decision reversed this determination in 2000.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as incurred in service.