PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor and thus not meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD warranted a higher initial disability rating of 30 percent prior to May 19, 2000 and a 100 percent rating thereafter.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation and effective date for his post-traumatic stress disorder was granted, but the appeal regarding unemployability compensation is pending.

The Board found no credible evidence of the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were granted. He was awarded a 10 percent rating for scars of the right forearm, a 10 percent rating for tinea corporis, and his claim for separate compensable evaluation for multiple noncompensable disabilities is resolved in his favor.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted, based on direct evidence of a current disability and a link to in-service stressors. The appeal was not about service connection via a presumption like PACT Act or Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for colon cancer secondary to herbicide exposure during service. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed stressors did not occur during service and thus could not establish service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD from June 30, 1995 and found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in virtual isolation in the community.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active military service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD and determined that the appellant is unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD, granting him a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence of a stressor related to his active military service and thus no current disability from PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that the first formal or informal claim was received on June 23, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of PTSD and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability, finding that May 5, 2000 is the earliest date for which an increase in disability compensation can be assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hearing loss and PTSD, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The current ratings for these conditions are 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left thumb disability, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder. The initial noncompensable evaluations assigned following grants of service connection were also denied.

The February 1991 rating decision assigning a 100 percent rating for PTSD with an effective date of July 17, 2001 is not considered to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and for tinea infections (jungle rot) of the face, feet, and groin. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was granted for PTSD based on credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there is no evidence of combat involvement and the stressors are not supported by credible supporting evidence.