PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and failure to establish a link between current PTSD symptoms and any verified or verifiable in-service stressor.

The veteran's claims for service connection for lichen planus, periodontal disease, degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, fibromyalgia, and post-traumatic stress disorder have all been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Specifically, there is no competent medical evidence showing a connection between any of these conditions and the veteran's time in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his PTSD was caused by willful misconduct during service.

The Board has granted an initial noncompensable evaluation for each of the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee disability, left knee disability, tendonitis of the right rotator cuff, chronic bronchitis, and PTSD. The RO also assigned a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, but has not assigned a specific effective date as it was previously denied and then granted.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and gunshot wound to the right lower leg do not render him unemployable due to his disabilities. The Board finds that he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is manifested by total social impairment and inability to obtain or retain employment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, and he is now service-connected for this condition. His adjustment disorder remains un-compensably rated.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before an RO Hearing Officer. If not granted, the case will be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a schedular 100 percent rating for PTSD and for retroactive payment of annual clothing allowance, finding that there was no evidence to support earlier ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor and thus no basis to establish a diagnosis of PTSD. The veteran's symptoms were attributed to childhood abuse rather than an in-service event.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of post-traumatic stress disorder and hordeolum of the right eye, as well as his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability, were all denied by the Board. The RO continued the current 30 percent evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder and noncompensable evaluation for hordeolum of the right eye.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a temporary total rating based on the receipt of hospital treatment for a service-connected disability were both denied due to lack of qualifying service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory, neurological, and psychiatric disabilities, are denied as there is no direct evidence of these conditions in service or a link to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD prior to October 26, 1999 and a 70 percent rating from that date forward. The veteran's symptoms included suicidal ideation, depression, irritability, and social withdrawal, which led to job loss and family discord.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of PTSD, finding that no pending claim existed prior to December 5, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation, which is higher than the current 50 percent rating. The evidence shows significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD warranted a 100 percent schedular evaluation as of July 9, 1997, and granted an effective date of that day for his increased rating.

The veteran's hospitalization at OHSU was not authorized for reimbursement due to the lack of eligibility under VA regulations.