PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for a skin rash and gastrointestinal disorder, but denied the claims of entitlement to service connection for respiratory disorder and PTSD due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection and increased ratings for the veteran's left knee disability, gunshot wound to the popliteal space of the left knee, and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus could not rely solely on his self-reported stressors to establish service connection for PTSD. The evidence did not corroborate all of the veteran's claimed stressors, leading to a denial of the claim.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in April 1986 and March 1990, respectively. The decision is based on existing evidence at that time.

The Board found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, but denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.

The veteran's PTSD causes total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 50 percent for the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which was previously rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board finds that the veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, excluding PTSD, is not well grounded and thus denied.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the veteran's assertions regarding specific in-service stressors, and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD due to new and material evidence submitted since the RO's May 1997 decision. However, it was determined that the veteran did not participate in combat or have verified stressors related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and grants this claim. The issue of a higher initial evaluation for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for PTSD and peripheral neuropathy are not well-grounded. The veteran's statements regarding diagnoses of PTSD or exposure to Agent Orange were not supported by medical evidence.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant's PTSD is a consequence of his military service, specifically due to combat experiences in Vietnam. The appeal was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was incurred in active wartime service and granted his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder was based on his alleged rape in service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is well grounded, and the appeal is granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, tinnitus, and headaches were denied. Service connection for PTSD was granted with a 30% rating effective November 18, 1987, which was later increased to 50% from November 6, 1995 through January 3, 2000, and to 70% effective January 4, 2000.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The claim is well-grounded, and further development is needed to verify the stressors claimed by the veteran.

The veteran's PTSD is restored to a 100 percent rating, and the issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability is granted.