PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2004

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for PTSD and a cervical spine disorder. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for Schamberg's disease is REMANDED to the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD, finding that his disability was manifested by mild social and industrial impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and found no clear and unmistakable error in previous rating determinations regarding personality disorder, PTSD, or a temporary total disability evaluation.

The veteran's service connection claim for a disorder manifested by chronic fatigue, tension headaches, and multiple joints and muscle aching due to an undiagnosed illness is granted. The claim was based on the presumption of service connection for an undiagnosed illness related to service in Southwest Asia.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues include service connection for residuals of a fracture of the left jaw and an effective date for PTSD.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran's PTSD warranted a disability rating of 50 percent, which is in excess of the initial 30 percent assigned by the RO. The decision was based on the severity of the veteran's symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Board has determined that proper notification was not made in 1990 and that there are issues regarding prior VA treatment, necessitating further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining verification of stressors from USACRUR and a comprehensive psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD is characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but without deficiencies in most areas. The criteria for a higher disability rating were not met.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records, verify stressors, and conduct a VA psychiatric examination in order to determine the nature and etiology of any neuropsychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depression.

The Board has determined that the veteran experienced sexual trauma in service, which resulted in PTSD. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board found that the veteran did not timely file a Substantive Appeal to the August 2000 rating decision granting a 50 percent rating for headaches with anxiety and depression, claimed as PTSD. The request for a personal hearing in connection with this decision was also dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 29, 2000 for a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The RO had previously granted service connection for PTSD in April 1989 and assigned a 100 percent evaluation effective February 29, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran was exposed to stressors during service and has granted service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and extent of the appellant's service-connected PTSD and any vaginal disorder. The TDIU claim is deferred pending completion of these actions.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's request for an increase in his PTSD evaluation from 50 percent to a higher percentage.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective January 24, 2000. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the TDIU is now moot as he already receives a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

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