PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred, despite the veteran having been diagnosed with PTSD.

The Board has determined that the October 1991 and February 1993 RO decisions granting service connection for PTSD, effective August 2, 1990, are not based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The veteran's claim was initially denied in 1985 due to lack of evidence of PTSD. Service connection was later granted in October 1991 with a temporary total rating for hospitalization from August 2, 1990, to August 31, 1990; and a schedular 30 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development regarding the alleged stressor event and verification of the veteran's presence at the helicopter crash.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service combat stressors.

The veteran's PTSD was granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent effective February 26, 1996. The claim for a higher rating prior to June 3, 2005 is denied.

From October 21, 2003 to May 31, 2004, the veteran was awarded a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD with major depression.,Effective June 1, 2004, the veteran received a 100 percent evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and skin rash and keloids, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not support the diagnosis of PTSD or a link between the claimed conditions and active military service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development due to insufficient information regarding the veteran's claimed stressor and for compliance with notice requirements.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include Major Depressive Disorder, based on evidence of a current disability, a link between the in-service stressor and the current condition, and new evidence that supports the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a chronic low back disability. For PTSD, the evidence did not establish a diagnosis of PTSD or credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. For the low back disability, there was no medical record corroborating the veteran's account of being struck by a car during active duty.

The Board finds that the veteran's current gastric disorder is secondary to medications prescribed for his service-connected spinal and knee disabilities. Therefore, service connection for a gastric disorder is granted.

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

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to his military service. The issue of non-service connected pension benefits remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's service stressors and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss effective April 7, 2003. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated less than 100 percent disabling, and the combined evaluation of his multiple service-connected disabilities is 60 percent. The case is REMANDED for referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10 percent disability rating, effective June 24, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for bladder cancer due to herbicide exposure and service-connected prostate cancer, as well as service connection for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety disorder and PTSD), finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vaginitis with moniliasis, bilateral axillary adenitis, chronic urinary tract infections, sinusitis, fibrocystic breast disease, a left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disability), diabetes mellitus, and a bilateral foot condition. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD.