PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran died due to a severe concussion resulting from a motor vehicle accident. The Board found that the cause of death was his own willful misconduct, as evidenced by his high blood alcohol content at the time of the accident.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that new and material evidence supports reopening of her previously denied claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The RO confirmed the existing combined rating of 90 percent for service-connected disabilities, which included bilateral hearing loss (rated at 60%), lumbosacral strain (rated at 40%), PTSD (rated at 30%), residuals of TUR of the bladder neck with benign prostatic hypertrophy (rated at 20%), and a cyst of the epiglottis (noncompensable).

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms including major depression, difficulty adapting to stressful environments, and problems with family and social relationships. The Board has determined that the disability picture more nearly approximates a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of competent medical evidence diagnosing PTSD based on an in-service stressor.

The Board found that the veteran did not file a timely notice of disagreement regarding the effective date of service connection for PTSD, and thus the March 1995 decision is final.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as nightmares, intrusive thoughts, depression, anxiety, flashbacks, exaggerated startle response, isolation, and suicidal ideation. The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as avoidant behavior, irritability, nightmares, and difficulty with interpersonal relationships. The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for his PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin disability of the feet, pulmonary disability, and PTSD. The skin disability is not considered to be incurred in or aggravated by active duty, nor may it be presumed due to an undiagnosed illness. The pulmonary disability claim was denied as there is no evidence that the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during service. The PTSD claim was also denied because the veteran failed to provide sufficient details about his alleged stressors and did not obtain corroborating evidence of his participation in combat or verified stressors.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous condition in April 1958, which became final as he did not file an application for review within one year of notice of denial. The effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is February 9, 1987.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is March 5, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD diagnosis was not credible due to her history of drug use and unstable personality, and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 60 percent, effective June 2, 1992. The left little finger disability remains noncompensably disabling. Neurogenic bladder has been rated as 40 percent disabling since February 17, 1994. The residuals of in-service rib injury and head injury are each rated at 30 percent disabling. PTSD is rated at 30 percent disabling effective June 2, 1992. The veteran's bowel disability remains noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with dysthymic disorder should be November 20, 1987.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was granted. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine the origin of her bilateral cataracts.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected PTSD, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected major depression, finding that his symptoms did not warrant an increase beyond 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, hypertension, and chronic duodenal ulcer with diarrhea were denied. The Board found that the current disability levels did not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.