PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial compensable disability rating for his abdominal scar and residuals of exploratory laparotomy for a stab wound, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to verify his claimed in-service stressor of handling dead bodies during graves registration duties.

The Board granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that his diagnosis was linked to a stressor from active duty and supported by credible evidence.

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent from November 12, 1997 to March 9, 1999. The rating was later increased to 70 percent effective on March 10, 1999.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 100 percent, warranting a total schedular rating. However, as he already has a 100 percent rating for PTSD, the claim of entitlement to TDIU benefits is dismissed.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, and the claim is being denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD, finding that no document predating September 13, 1996 constituted a formal or informal claim.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 100% schedular rating for PTSD, but the Board finds that there is no evidence of total disability due to PTSD prior to June 16, 1994.

The veteran is appealing the initial 10 percent disability rating assigned to his PTSD, claiming that he should receive at least a 30 percent rating for this disorder. The case must be remanded to schedule a hearing via videoconference before a Member of the Board.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a skin disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, headaches, a cervical spine disorder, and left leg and right eye disorders. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen the claim for a psychiatric condition (other than PTSD), and that none of the other conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board determined that separate disability ratings for PTSD and OBS are not warranted, as the symptoms related to both conditions are rated together under a single diagnostic code.

The Board determined that the service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute to the veteran's death in a motor vehicle accident, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in August 1988. The veteran's testimony at a hearing in August 1993 provided credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor related to his experiences in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and noting that the veteran did not have combat experience. The case was remanded multiple times but ultimately remained in denial.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but not higher. The service-connected lumbosacral spine disability has been rated as zero percent since October 18, 1961, and the RO determined that it does not warrant a total (100%) rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from December 31, 1999 to January 2, 2000 due to lack of service connection and failure to meet other eligibility criteria.