PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 18, 2001, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The decision found that there was no formal or informal claim for PTSD prior to June 18, 2001, and that medical evidence alone is not sufficient to establish a formal or informal claim.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and TDIU, finding that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric condition that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination, and providing the Veteran with a Social and Industrial Field Survey. The case will be reconsidered to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure, but denied the other claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied service connection for Major Depression and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are more likely due to substance abuse rather than military service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, left knee condition, back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) were all incurred in service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The issues of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are also on appeal. The case is being remanded to allow the Veteran to undergo examinations and for further development.

The Board found that hypertension was not first manifested during active duty service or within the first post-service year and denied service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but he contends it should be higher.

The Veteran's PTSD, low back disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, epididymitis, and malaria are all rated at the lowest possible levels due to lack of evidence supporting higher ratings. The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 50 percent disabling, but his other conditions do not warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from November 26, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective from May 29, 2005. The Board finds that the symptoms associated with the Veteran's service-connected PTSD more closely approximate a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran also requested a higher initial disability evaluation for PTSD, but the Board found that the evidence did not support such a rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity venous thrombophlebitis, high cholesterol, hernia, edema, heart disability (presumably referring to heart disease), and hypertension have been withdrawn. The Board also found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for psychiatric disability, claimed as depression and PTSD, due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current conditions and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the severity of his PTSD and whether he qualifies for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and headaches. The claim for a TDIU will be held in abeyance pending adjudication of the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it more closely approximates a 70 percent rating based on occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot ulcers, left foot ulcers, PTSD, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The Veteran's claim for hypertension was pending as it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. His claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and left ear hearing loss disability were both denied. His claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and denied service connection for fibromyalgia. The Veteran's PTSD is presumed to be due to military sexual trauma during service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations. IBS is presumed to be related to service in the Gulf War. Fibromyalgia was not found to be incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.