PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board found no additional disability resulting from the January 1976 spinal tap, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a spinal tap performed at a VA medical center in January 1976 resulting in low back pain.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to February 13, 2004 for service connection of PTSD. The earliest date of receipt of a reopened claim was February 13, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as there is no diagnosis of PTSD in the record and the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran engaged in combat or experienced an in-service stressor. The VA examiner found the veteran to have cocaine dependence and a drug-induced mood disorder, but did not find any evidence of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and readjudication due to inadequate discussion of the veteran's psychiatric symptoms in relation to the criteria for ratings above 50 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and otitis. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for substance abuse (alcohol and drug) as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD. The veteran is also entitled to a disability rating greater than 30 percent for his PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was productive of considerable social and industrial impairment, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent for the period from March 13, 1993 to January 13, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a low back disorder due to lack of verification of claimed stressors. The other issues related to increased ratings were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for post-traumatic stress disorder should be remanded to allow for further development of his claims, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a current examination and proper notice under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a).

The veteran is seeking an effective date prior to December 18, 2002 for a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The case has been remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice regarding the establishment of an effective date and whether there was a timely substantive appeal with respect to service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, and his hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, or colitis are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as it meets the criteria for service connection based on in-service stressors. The claim for sleep apnea remains pending due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset or etiology.

The Board found that there is no verified in-service stressor and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD.

The veteran's claim of an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the appeal process.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and evaluations of his service-connected scars. The veteran was not granted any compensable ratings based on his service-connected scars.

The Board has determined that a medical examination is necessary to adjudicate the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board found that the veteran did not have combat duty and his alleged in-service stressors relating to non-combat situations could not be verified. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied.

From October 28, 1996 to August 7, 2000, the veteran was granted a disability rating of 30 percent for PTSD.,From August 8, 2000 to July 15, 2002, the veteran's disability rating for PTSD was increased to 50 percent.,From July 16, 2002 to March 10, 2003, the veteran received a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD.,Effective from March 11, 2003, the veteran's disability rating for PTSD was increased to 100 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to military service and has granted his claim for service connection.