PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not engage in combat and his reported stressors do not meet the criteria for service connection due to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Therefore, service connection is denied for PTSD, psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bronchitis, Ghon's complex, sleep apnea, anemia, and hyperlipidemia.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a verified in-service stressor and therefore could not establish service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the appellant was 'insane' at the time of his court-martial discharge.

The Board found no evidence of current PTSD, hearing loss, or tinnitus related to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, mood disorder, and depression, were denied. The claim for increased rating for the thoracic spine disability was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of current PTSD and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial rating of 30 percent effective April 20, 2004. The Veteran's appeal is now on the issue of whether a higher initial rating should be assigned prior to December 8, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and ED, including verification of stressors and examination for psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 7, 2009, when he filed his petition to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder were found to warrant a 70 percent disability rating effective March 28, 2008, the date of his claim for TDIU. The earlier effective dates of July 12, 2004 are granted as he met the schedular criteria for these conditions prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including the residuals of a lung injury and PTSD, are shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU by reason of these service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that his psychiatric symptoms are related to a chronic pain syndrome resulting from a post-service workplace injury.

The Veteran's claim for education benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code (Chapter 30 or Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)) to include an extension of the 10-year delimiting date was denied as he did not apply for an extension within one year after his expiration date or within one year of the last day he was prevented from pursuing such a program.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 17, 2009. The disability picture more closely resembles occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and granted both service connection for this condition and a TDIU based on his PTSD.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorder, as the prior examiner was unable to provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 50 percent is warranted for his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to consider the newly obtained treatment records and provide an addendum opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in June 2010 and denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current or past diagnosis.