PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of service connection for various foot disabilities, back disability, and knee disabilities are addressed in detail below.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in April 2008, and the appeal is being considered based on a new application to reopen the previously denied claim received on May 25, 2011. The effective date for the award of service connection cannot be earlier than May 25, 2011.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for PTSD, but denied service connection due to lack of credible supporting evidence. The lumbar spine disability issue remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was not incurred in active service and is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service and denied his claim. For PTSD, the Board noted that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas as required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and panic disorder with agoraphobia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to a witnessed in-service stressor, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his current conditions did not manifest during service and are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for PTSD and SMC by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance or on account of being housebound.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, anxiety disorder, and PTSD. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for most of his claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disorders. The only condition found by the Board with a possible link to service is dementia, but this was many years after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection.

The Board found no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depression, as the Veteran did not submit a claim prior to May 12, 2010. The January 2011 rating decision is considered final.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, depressive disorder, and PTSD, is found to be related to his service experiences. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of service-connected headache disorder and review of the claims for anxiety and depression with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, left breast gynecomastia, and shortness of breath.