PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2001

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD from October 16, 1996 to the present. The other claims are denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye infection and PTSD, but denied both claims on their merits.

The Board has denied all the claims for service connection due to lack of objective indications of chronic disability or evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's reported stressors during service are credible and have led to PTSD, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD based on verified in-service stressors or participation in combat with the enemy. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation for the period from August 22, 1997 to January 4, 2000.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since March 15, 2000. The Board found that the disability rating for PTSD is appropriate based on the evidence showing the veteran's inability to obtain or retain employment due to his PTSD.

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

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has dismissed the motion to review a June 1990 decision denying a compensable evaluation for PTSD due to the withdrawal of the motion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's testimony regarding stressful experiences in service, including a sexual assault while in military confinement, is considered. Further investigation into identifying individuals involved in these events is required.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis and no verified stressors occurred during his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to disease or injury incurred in his active wartime service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD since March 1, 2001. The veteran's claim remains pending as he is seeking the maximum benefit allowed by law.

The Board found that new evidence submitted since the September 1997 rating decision did not bear directly and substantially upon the specific matter under consideration, thus failing to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's current mental disability was diagnosed as dementia with delusions and behavioral disturbance, but no causal link between this condition and military service was established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to service and has granted service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent based on current manifestations.

The veteran's appeal is about seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The RO denied this request, and the case is being remanded to schedule a travel board hearing.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, but his psychiatric disability has been productive of a demonstrable inability to obtain or retain employment since February 24, 1998. His residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left arm have resulted in moderate impairment of Muscle Group V muscles.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be established due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors. As such, the appeal is denied.

The veteran's claim for an initial 50 percent rating for PTSD was denied by the RO, and a 50 percent rating has been assigned effective February 21, 1992.