The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence establishing a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder based on an in-service traumatic event or stressor. The acquired psychiatric disorder was not shown to have onset during service, nor within one year of separation from service. The weight of the competent medical evidence is against finding a nexus between the post-service diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records do not contain any documented in-service stressor or mental health issues that would support a claim for PTSD. There is no clear and convincing evidence to contradict the Veteran's lay testimony regarding his experiences during service, but there is also no medical evidence linking current psychiatric disorders directly to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia), Multiple sclerosis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2011
- Citation
- 1138924
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1138924.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis to correct a duty to assist error in obtaining relevant private treatment records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of the Veteran's cause of death to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine and multiple sclerosis disabilities due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and examination, as well as readjudication.
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