PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stressors are related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and are consistent with his Vietnam service. The Veteran was diagnosed with PTSD, which is related to the in-service stressors. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including diagnoses of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Board finds that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made.

The Board has determined that the effective date for TDIU should be January 10, 2002, as this is the earliest date on which the Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened several claims and remanded them for further development, including those related to the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, shoulder disorders, hypertension, PTSD, left wrist disorder, right ear disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and left elbow disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the initial grant of service connection, and his effective date for TDIU due to PTSD is set at May 7, 1998.

The Board has determined that there is no verified stressor event and therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment since March 4, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment since January 6, 2010.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is service connected as it pre-existed service and was likely aggravated by military service.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran was also denied a higher evaluation for his irritable colon syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in his need for regular aid and attendance, including the inability to dress or undress himself, the inability to attend to his hygiene, the need to frequently adjust any special prosthetic or orthopedic appliance, the inability to feed himself or attend to the wants of nature, the incapacity to protect himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment; and the Veteran is not bedridden.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are consistent with his military service and have been verified by a VA psychiatrist. Therefore, the claim for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities, and tinnitus, resulting in a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent disability rating for PTSD has been maintained, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 50 percent is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for her service-connected migraine and tension headaches was denied as the evidence did not show that her condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his verified in-service stressor, and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of sense of smell and an increased rating for PTSD since February 11, 2009 due to his failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in the severity of PTSD during the one-year period before the filing of his March 15, 2007, increased rating claim.