PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as there is no evidence showing he filed a claim prior to May 19, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The case will be readjudicated after obtaining any relevant SSA records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is now remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine whether a current diagnosis of PTSD can be made based on in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his military service, specifically the October 1986 electrocution incident. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for his psychiatric disorders and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD has been granted, as his current diagnosis of PTSD is related to an in-service stressor involving a soldier attacking him with a knife. The Board found that the Veteran's lay testimony alone may establish the occurrence of this claimed in-service stressor under the recent amendment to the governing regulation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% disability evaluation for his left knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he was entitled to such a rating prior to September 29, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional records and conduct further development, including a search for possible humanitarian awards related to the Veteran's service on board the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard during typhoons in October 1970.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to procedural issues and the need for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are still pending.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Johnson City Medical Center on June 5, 2009 were approved as the treatment was for a condition of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health. Additionally, VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board found that the appellant's gastrointestinal disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, is not related to his service-connected right testicle carcinoma or PTSD, and is not due to herbicide exposure. The claim was denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, but it is not warranted as the acquired psychiatric disorder did not result from service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected PTSD, as there is no evidence of alcohol abuse or substance use disorder related to his PTSD. The cause of death was determined to be metastatic pancreatic cancer, which was not linked to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in combat. Service connection for hypertension, secondary to major depression, was also granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims for service connection for PTSD, low back disorder, hepatitis, stomach disorder, leg cramps, and headaches. However, new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD from May 31, 2005 to April 17, 2007. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the sufficiency of the claimed stressor as well as the relationship between his symptoms and the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU as his effective date for service connection was determined to be June 20, 2003.