PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and a higher rating for his PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there is no credible supporting evidence of a stressor related to service. The veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not linked to any verified in-service stressors, leading to denial of both PTSD and chronic depression claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity, an increased rating for PTSD, and an increased evaluation for right below knee amputation. The claim for an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain was not addressed in this decision.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD and concluded that the veteran does not have this condition due to lack of a valid diagnosis. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD and found that an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the duodenal ulcer is warranted. The veteran's service connection claims for vision disorder, heart disease, and new evidence-based reopening are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and additional development is needed including obtaining medical records, arranging for examinations, and issuing a statement of the case.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to his failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred, and thus did not meet the threshold requirements for establishing service connection for PTSD.

The initial evaluations for PTSD were proper, with the veteran receiving a 50 percent rating from January 19, 1999. The increased evaluation for residuals of shell fragment wound of the left elbow with ulnar nerve deficit was also denied.

The veteran's PTSD causes total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD as a result of military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 15, 1997 for his TDIU award due to lack of factual ascertainability of unemployability prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left neck asymmetry, bilateral knee pain, decreased visual acuity (undiagnosed illness), anxiety disorder with fatigue (undiagnosed illness), and PTSD. The decision found that there was no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is currently manifested by chronic sleep disturbances, depressed mood, suspiciousness, occasional panic attacks, and mild memory loss. The symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, and a heart disorder. The Board found that the veteran does not have right ear hearing loss by VA standards and his left ear hearing loss is not related to his period of active service. His heart disorder is also not related to his period of active service or his service-connected depressive neurosis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and left knee disability due to a lack of competent medical evidence supporting these conditions.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his PTSD was denied. The effective date of the decision is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psoriasis and PTSD are service-connected, with the conditions being found to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there was no verified stressful in-service event to support a diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.