The Board has determined that the appellant does not suffer from PTSD as a result of verified in-service stressors. The VA examination concluded that the appellant does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and his current diagnosis is dysthymia which was not present in service or for many years afterward. Therefore, the claim for service connection for left distal ulnar nerve dysfunction due to herbicide exposure is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the appellant does not meet the diagnostic criteria of PTSD based on his current Axis I diagnosis of dysthymia and lack of verified combat stressors in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left distal ulnar nerve dysfunction, Skin disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 1, 2006
- Citation
- 0605757
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another since September 30, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and right hand strain, increased the ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, dyshidrotic eczema, and hypertension, and denied service connection for Parkinsonism, pes planus/flat feet, GERD, tinea versicolor, allergic rhinitis, and tinnitus. The Board also granted a TDIU.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.