PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD as a result of military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective from December 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected low back strain and post-traumatic stress disorder with major depression, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic criteria.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, thus allowing the veteran's claim to proceed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and schizophrenia, concluding that there is insufficient medical evidence to support these diagnoses as a result of his combat service in Korea.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to September 1999, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score of 60.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not show the presence of psychiatric symptoms consistent with a 50 percent disability level for PTSD, and therefore, a rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD, effective from July 12, 1988. The veteran's PTSD is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in work and family relationships.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD attributable to military service or any incident of active duty, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected back strain warrants a 20 percent evaluation, resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence. However, it determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current cervical spine disorder to his period of active duty service. The claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability and denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible in-service stressors.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected PTSD, currently rated at 50 percent. The case has been remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for her service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by aspiration due to acute alcoholism, which is service-connected as PTSD. The Board found that the veteran's severe PTSD worsened his alcoholism and granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to exposure to Scud missile attacks during his Gulf War service. Joint pain has not been linked to his service and remains undiagnosed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to lack of credible evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD and no other currently present acquired psychiatric disorder being related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a disability evaluation of 50 percent, effective from April 24, 1998.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic laryngitis, multiple chemical sensitivity, and headaches. Service connection for PTSD was denied as not due to a stressor related to service. The veteran's bronchial asthma is currently rated at 10 percent.