PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for residuals of fracture of the left radius is granted. Service connection for PTSD and back pain are denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and thus could not establish an in-service stressor based on his own testimony. The evidence provided by the veteran was deemed insufficient to corroborate any of the claimed stressors, leading to a denial of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, renders him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back, peptic ulcer disease, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, essential hypertension, and PTSD were denied. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted with a current evaluation of 60 percent.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD, the highest available rating, effective from when the claim was filed.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the August 1981 rating decision denying service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as the issue of an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for Type-II Diabetes Mellitus and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or combat-related stressors during the appellant's service in Korea.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and testicular cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, including those from Kansas City, Missouri, Wichita, Kansas, Topeka, Kansas, and Leavenworth, Kentucky. The veteran should also obtain a written opinion linking his testicular cancer to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to combat-related stressors experienced during his tour in Vietnam.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder, is not related to service or any service-connected disability. The claim was denied as there is insufficient medical evidence to support a finding of service connection.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation, effective from the date of claim. The veteran's PTSD was characterized by moderate symptomatology prior to June 27, 2005.

The veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 30 percent prior to October 10, 2006 and increased to 50 percent effective October 10, 2006. The appeal is for higher ratings.

The Board vacated the denial of service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue to the RO for further consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor and thus no basis to establish a link between his current symptoms and service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and denied an increased rating for PTSD. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there is no credible supporting evidence of a non-combat stressor for PTSD. The skin disability was also found to be unrelated to service, as it pre-dated his military service by many years.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death due to a motor vehicle accident, concluding that the primary cause of death was multiple blunt traumatic injuries resulting from the accident.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, including due to Agent Orange exposure. The veteran's stressor claim was not supported by credible evidence.