PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding his employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, and he is awarded a TDIU. The right eye chalazion and left carpal tunnel syndrome are not rated compensably or in excess of the current ratings, respectively. The low back disability does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD has been granted at a 50 percent level since March 8, 2007. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a travel Board hearing as requested by the Veteran. The appeal is not yet decided on its merits.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since June 9, 2003, and increased to 70 percent from February 21, 2007, to July 13, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to its relationship to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran needs to provide evidence of a current disability, a service-connected disability, and medical nexus evidence establishing a connection between the service-connected disability and the current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service stressors, which have been verified. As such, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his experiences in Japan during World War II, specifically witnessing the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing. The Board finds that these experiences qualify as a stressor for PTSD and grants service connection.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout has been granted, and his request to reopen a claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle rash was withdrawn. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted, effective from the date he stopped working on June 30, 2006. The claims for higher ratings of residuals of compression fracture L1 and left knee osteoarthritis are also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this evaluation adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and has found new evidence that supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service aboard the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk during enemy attacks, including attacks by kamikaze pilots and racial attacks from fellow soldiers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not incurred in line of duty due to his own willful misconduct, and thus service connection for PTSD cannot be granted. The claims for back disorder, headaches, hearing loss, high blood pressure, and nasal disorder are also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, anxiety, and a panic disorder with agoraphobia. The skin disorder claim is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 50 percent rating effective January 13, 2011. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the relationship between in-service psychiatric episodes and current diagnoses.

The Board found that there is no diagnosed psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for a low back disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as gastroesophageal reflux disease and constipation), and psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, anxiety, and depression).