PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to his failure to provide corroborating evidence of claimed stressors, and there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before a Member of the Board at the local office.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptomatology warrants a 50 percent disability rating, effective September 2, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed inservice stressors actually occurred.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and the claim for an increased evaluation for her right knee disability was also denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the veteran does not have a diagnosed condition related to her in-service stressor. For the right knee issue, the Board determined that the veteran's symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial 50 percent evaluation, effective January 30, 1998. The veteran's symptoms include flashbacks, depression, irritability, sleep impairment, and difficulties in establishing and maintaining social relationships.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 14, 1995, for service connection of PTSD. The decision stated that there was no evidence of a claim or informal claim prior to July 14, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was incurred in service due to verified stressors experienced during his deployment in Vietnam. The diagnosis of PTSD is supported by medical evidence, and there is credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred at Northside Medical Center due to lack of prior authorization and failure to meet the criteria for emergency care.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating under VA guidelines, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and PTSD, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD is at least as likely as not related to his active service and granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding no credible evidence to support her claimed in-service stressors and thus failing to meet the second requirement for establishing service connection.

The VA determined that there is no evidence of PTSD meeting the criteria for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is shown to likely result in severe social and industrial impairment, making him demonstrably unable to perform substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 100 percent rating are met.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from April 12, 1993 to January 10, 1999 and increased to 70 percent effective April 1, 1999. The RO granted an effective date of August 2001 for the 70 percent rating.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that his current diagnosis is based on verified stressors from his service in Vietnam.

The Board found credible evidence supporting the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and a current diagnosis of PTSD, leading to a grant of service connection for PTSD.