PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating evaluation for dermatitis has been denied. His claim for increased PTSD disability rating is pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this opinion.

The Board denied service connection for major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), skin cancer, prostate cancer, and colon bleeding (diagnosed as colitis) due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, TDIU, and service connection for bilateral hip, knee, low back, and arthritis disabilities were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD should be May 28, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 10, 2003, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The earliest possible effective date is January 10, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it is linked to his combat experiences during World War II.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for further evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent from August 30, 1996 to October 24, 2000 and later increased to 30 percent after October 25, 2000.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a compensable evaluation for duodenal ulcer.

The Board denied service connection for type-II diabetes mellitus and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or in-service events that could support the claims.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder and PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors or a diagnosis related to such conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran suffers from PTSD due to combat participation and whether any other acquired psychiatric disorders are present. The examiner should also assess if symptoms noted in service medical records were manifestations of personality disorders.

The veteran's claim of an increased rating for PTSD was denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The service connection claim for prostate cancer was also denied as there is no evidence that the condition is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a claimed in-service stressor for PTSD. The veteran needs to provide more specific information about his alleged stressors and VA will seek additional records from USASCRUR.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD is directly related to his service in Vietnam, and thus granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no objective evidence of participation in combat and no independent verification of a stressor in service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for arthritis and PTSD, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied service connection on the merits.

The Board has decided that the veteran's service connection claim for PTSD should be remanded due to a lack of supporting service medical records, and the need to obtain these records before making a final decision.