PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service due to a lack of credible corroborating evidence for his claimed in-service stressors.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD, which is not linked to a specific exposure basis or presumption, warrants an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD cannot be granted as there is no provision in law allowing such a retroactive effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than August 25, 1998, for service connection of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The RO granted service connection for PTSD on August 25, 1998, and the Board found that no exception to the general rule applies. The earliest possible effective date is therefore August 25, 1998.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by severe to major impairment of social and occupational function, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD and an anxiety disorder, is due to disease or injury incurred in active service. The benefit of doubt has been extended to the veteran.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder warrants a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting severe occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted an increased rating. The issues of service connection for decreased libido, lethargy, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU are pending.

The veteran's inpatient hospitalization at York Hospital from January 31, 2001 to February 2, 2001 was not considered an emergency requiring reimbursement or payment by VA due to the delay in seeking care and the availability of VA facilities.

The veteran's TDIU was granted effective from June 12, 1985 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since that date.

The veteran's multiple diseases and disabilities, including AIDS, kidney disease, hypertension, and PTSD, taken together, preclude substantially gainful employment. The Board grants nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence that a claimed in-service stressor occurred during a period of qualifying military service.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the veteran's service did not result in a current disability, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to unverified in-service stressors and a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed events occurred.

The veteran's combined ratings due to service-connected disabilities were in excess of 40 percent for the period from May 6, 1991, forward. The earliest ascertainable date that the veteran was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities was July 13, 1995.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The veteran's initial claim of a 50 percent evaluation for service-connected PTSD with major depression has been granted, and the Board finds that his symptoms warrant this level of disability.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on the veteran's reported in-service stressors and medical evidence linking his current condition to those events.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder and a higher evaluation for PTSD. The VA found no evidence of a separate anxiety disability from PTSD, and determined that PTSD alone did not meet criteria for a higher rating.