PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 26, 1983, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a claim being filed before that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a PTSD evaluation and service connection for hypertension. The claim for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD. The issue regarding residuals of exposure to a fuel spill was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II, claimed as due to exposure to Agent Orange. The RO is instructed to take all necessary actions to locate and rebuild the original claims folder, provide proper VCAA notice, and then review the claims in light of the evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and thus, his lay statements alone are insufficient to establish the occurrence of an alleged stressor. The VA was unable to verify his claimed in-service stressful events due to lack of information provided by the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is related to service and granted his claim for this condition. The joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness was not shown in service or within one year thereafter, nor is it presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD meeting the diagnostic criteria and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a hearing before the RO's Decision Review Officer and obtaining records from the VAMC in Atlanta. The veteran should also provide details of his in-service stressors and undergo a psychiatric examination if necessary.

The Board has granted a 100 percent initial disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that it results in total occupational and social impairment.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and service connection for a left knee disorder, but granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for PTSD effective from October 20, 1998. The VA also granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD beginning November 27, 2001.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that is service-connected. The veteran's claims for a chronic cervical disorder were not addressed as they are no longer part of the current appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining more specific details of the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and providing a VA psychiatric examination to determine whether he has PTSD.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings had not been met, and there was no evidence of new and material information to reopen previously denied service connection claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD related to service and a general medical examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension. The issue of arthritis will be referred back to the RO with instructions on how to proceed.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's PTSD, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for this rating level.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for PTSD and denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but not in excess of that level. The effective date for prostate cancer was set at April 16, 2003.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notification and a more recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying in-service stressors related to PTSD and obtaining updated medical records. The veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and remanded the case to allow further development, including obtaining additional information about stressors in service and providing a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and consideration of both old and new rating criteria.