PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, and the Court ordered remand due to inadequate reasons and bases in the decision.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the posterior chest is remanded due to inadequate medical evidence and need for further examination. The issue also includes consideration of whether separate ratings are permitted under Diagnostic Codes 5320 and 5321, as well as an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of a gastrointestinal disorder during service or within one year after separation, and denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred. Service connection was also denied for defective hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated during active service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, based on new and material evidence provided since the last final decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements and additional evidence, including a request for an examination to determine if PTSD can be linked to the veteran's father's death during service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The appeal is based on a denial of direct service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective from June 14, 1996. Service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal because she did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with her December 1998 rating decision, which granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD effective May 12, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for TDIU is also addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has found that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of a claimed in-service stressor. The RO is instructed to attempt verification of the stressors and provide another VA examination if necessary.

The appellant's claim for an increased rating for his PTSD was denied because he failed to report for necessary VA psychiatric examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic dermatitis and found that the veteran's PTSD, ulcer disorder, prostate disorder, left wrist cyst, chest disorder, eye disorder, blackouts, stiff-man syndrome, gout, hernia, hypertension, and sleep disorder are related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Board for further action due to new assistance provisions set forth in the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% effective November 13, 2000.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to events experienced in service, and by extending the benefit of doubt to the veteran, his condition qualifies for service connection.