BVA9507561 DOCKET NO. 93-13 361 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg, Florida THE ISSUE Entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL The veteran ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD J. L. Prichard, Associate Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran had active service from February 1971 to December 1972. The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) notes that the veteran was denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than post-traumatic stress disorder, in a May 1979 rating decision of the regional office (RO). This decision was not appealed, and is final. However, the veteran's representative indicated in his June 1994 statement that the veteran may desire to reopen his claim for entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This issue is referred to the RO for any appropriate action. CONTENTIONS OF APPELLANT ON APPEAL The veteran contends that he has developed PTSD as a result of active service. He argues that he served in Vietnam, and was placed in stressful situations. He states that he is very nervous and unable to function around other people. DECISION OF THE BOARD The Board, in accordance with the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 7104 (West 1991), has reviewed and considered all of the evidence and material of record in the veteran's claims file. Based on its review of the relevant evidence in this matter, and for the following reasons and bases, it is the decision of the Board that the veteran has failed to submit evidence of a well grounded claim. FINDING OF FACT The veteran has failed to submit evidence to justify a belief by a fair and impartial individual that he has developed PTSD as a result of active service, or that he currently has PTSD. CONCLUSION OF LAW The veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for PTSD is not well grounded. 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107 (West 1991). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The veteran contends that he has developed PTSD as a result of active service. Service connection may be granted for disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service. 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1110, 1131. When a veteran submits a claim for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), he has the burden of submitting evidence to justify a belief by a fair and impartial individual that the claim is well grounded. 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107. After careful review of the veteran's contentions and the evidence of record, the Board must conclude that the veteran has failed to submit evidence to show that his claim for entitlement to service connection for PTSD is well grounded. The evidence submitted in support of the veteran's claim includes VA examination reports and treatment records from 1990 to the present. In addition, the Board has reviewed evidence submitted in conjunction with previous claims. However, the record is negative for any cognizable evidence that the veteran currently has PTSD. VA treatment records from 1976 to 1979 are negative for a diagnosis of PTSD. A VA hospital report for the veteran's hospitalization from March 1979 to May 1979 is of record. The diagnoses included drug dependence, alcoholism, and schizophrenia, but did not include PTSD. A VA examination conducted in February 1980 noted that the veteran had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, but PTSD was not shown. Additional VA treatment records from November 1985 show a diagnosis of schizophrenia, but are silent for PTSD. An April 1987 private psychiatric examination included diagnoses of schizophrenia, a past history of substance abuse, and dependent personality disorder. Private treatment records from 1986 to 1987 are negative for treatment of PTSD. The diagnosis of record was schizophrenia. A February 1988 letter from Canalarp P. Holliday, M.D., states that the veteran's diagnoses were schizophrenia and dependent personality disorder. VA hospital records show that he was admitted from May 1991 to June 1991. The diagnoses included alcohol dependence, polysubstance abuse, paranoid schizophrenia, and mixed personality disorder. April 1991 VA treatment records show that the veteran was seen for alcohol and drug abuse. The veteran was afforded a VA examination in November 1991. The diagnoses were schizophrenia, and abuse of street drugs and alcohol. The veteran was afforded a personal hearing in October 1992. He stated that he had experienced hallucinations while aboard his ship during service. Transcript at page 2. (T. at 2). However, the veteran did not offer testimony pertaining to stressors which could possibly support a diagnosis of PTSD, or state that he had ever received a diagnosis of PTSD. The veteran has failed to submit any evidence to show that he currently has PTSD. Although the veteran has been examined on many occasions and there is extensive evidence of other psychiatric disorders contained in the claims folder, there is no evidence to show that the veteran has developed PTSD. The veteran himself has repeatedly claimed to have PTSD. However, the veteran is not a psychiatrist, and is unable to offer his own medical opinion as evidence. Espiritu v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 492, 495 (1992). In view of the complete absence of any cognizable evidence that the veteran currently has PTSD, his claim must be considered not well grounded. Rabideau v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 141, 144 (1992). The veteran has not met his initial evidentiary burden, and additional development of the claim is not necessary. As the claim is not well grounded, further consideration by the Board is not required, and the claim must be dismissed. Boeck v. Brown, 6 Vet.App. 14, 17 (1993). ORDER The veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for post traumatic stress disorder is dismissed. WILLIAM J. REDDY Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals The Board of Veterans' Appeals Administrative Procedures Improvement Act, Pub. L. No. 103-271, § 6, 108 Stat. 740, ___ (1994), permits a proceeding instituted before the Board to be assigned to an individual member of the Board for a determination. This proceeding has been assigned to an individual member of the Board. NOTICE OF APPELLATE RIGHTS: Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7266 (West 1991), a decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals granting less than the complete benefit, or benefits, sought on appeal is appealable to the United States Court of Veterans Appeals within 120 days from the date of mailing of notice of the decision, provided that a Notice of Disagreement concerning an issue which was before the Board was filed with the agency of original jurisdiction on or after November 18, 1988. Veterans' Judicial Review Act, Pub. L. No. 100-687, § 402 (1988). The date which appears on the face of this decision constitutes the date of mailing and the copy of this decision which you have received is your notice of the action taken on your appeal by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.