PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, reflecting severe impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has determined that an effective date of December 16, 1997 is warranted for a 70 percent rating for the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD, with the veteran receiving a 30% rating for PTSD. The decision is based on medical opinions linking PTSD to hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations. The veteran's PTSD claim is related to his service, but lung cancer may be linked to a wartime inhalation injury.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD has been granted, with the current evaluation of 50 percent remaining unchanged.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD and basic eligibility for non-service-connected pension benefits due to insufficient evidence of a verified stressor in service, lack of combat experience, and failure to meet the criteria for permanent and total disability not due to misconduct.

The Board granted an effective date of August 31, 2001 for a 100% rating for PTSD based on the evidence showing that the veteran was totally disabled from PTSD as of this date.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent effective July 31, 1987. The rating was increased to 100 percent effective December 9, 1997.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that his in-service stressors are verified and related to his current diagnosis.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for the veteran's PTSD, finding that it results in total social and occupational impairment.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD were denied. The issues of service connection for an eating disorder and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claims.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD was denied as the earliest possible effective date is the date on which he filed his initial claim with the VA, November 12, 1999.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to participate or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD related to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting his claimed exposure and mission, as well as the denial of reopening a claim for disease of the central nervous system. The veteran's statements about a secret mission in Japan were found to be false.

The Board has determined that the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and therefore, his allegations of stressors are presumed to be true. The VA has conducted a comprehensive psychiatric examination which found PTSD is related to service. As such, the appeal for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The veteran's appeal of the February 1999 rating decision granting a 50% evaluation for PTSD was dismissed because it was not timely filed.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD is currently manifested.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, right ear disability, bilateral hip and shoulder disabilities. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.