PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2006

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service and denied the claim for service connection. For PTSD, the Board concluded that with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the appellant, his post-service symptoms are related to service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to the veteran's inability to attend the previously scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and proper notice under Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson, 19 Vet. App. 473 (2006).

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from end stage cirrhosis of the liver and COPD. Therefore, service connection for cause of death is granted.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA psychiatric examination to clarify the diagnoses of his acquired psychiatric disorders and assess their severity. The RO will then readjudicate the claims based on de novo review.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by poor concentration, memory loss, irritability, depressed mood, intrusive thoughts, abnormal abstract thinking, difficulty understanding complex commands, nightmares, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living minus self-care, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Board finds that the symptoms described in the VA and private treatment records more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor, and therefore, the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy. As a result, his lay statements regarding alleged stressors were insufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right foot injury and denied his claim for service connection for left shin and ankle injuries. The right foot condition is considered to be directly related to his military service, while the left leg conditions are not supported by evidence linking them to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, renal disease as secondary to hepatitis C, and a psychiatric disability to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of combat experience and stressors, requiring further investigation and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran does not have PTSD resulting from military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his service-connected PTSD. The case has been remanded to the RO for further investigation and development.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, left knee disorder, and hypertension. The veteran's claims were not supported by verified stressors or medical evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The VA granted a 30 percent rating for PTSD from November 19, 2003 to January 24, 2005.

The Board has granted a higher 70 percent rating for the veteran's PTSD, effective from February 4, 2004.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for such an increased rating.