PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since February 9, 2012. The VA determined that the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a chronic back disorder, tinnitus, PTSD, hypertension, and sleep disorders. The decision also addressed issues related to entitlement to a total evaluation for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his symptoms of fatigue, hypersomnolence, memory loss, loss of concentration, and muscle pain are attributable to an undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War Syndrome. The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his reported in-service stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have any symptoms of residuals of an appendectomy during any period of active service and that his currently diagnosed low back disorder is not related to active service. The claims for psychiatric, shoulder, muscle spasms and joint pain, and migraine headaches were also addressed but are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 1, 2001 for the award of a 100% schedular evaluation for the Veteran's PTSD with depression.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability or a disability of service origin. The Board found that the cause of death, end stage chronic COPD, was not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and malaria/bilateral hearing loss, combine to be 80% disabling. However, the evidence does not support a finding that he is unemployable due solely to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the initial rating for PTSD and service connection for TBI, including cognitive impairment. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder did not increase in severity during service and thus, denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% prior to June 26, 2006 and upgraded to 70% effective February 1, 2009.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD or depression, that is attributable to military service.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The anxiety disorder has been productive of complaints including occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as anxiety and chronic sleep impairment.,Throughout the rating period on appeal, the Veteran's shrapnel wound injury to muscle group VIII of the right elbow was productive of complaints of pain and fatigability, with a retained shrapnel fragment that did not penetrate the joint space, no muscle atrophy, no loss of range of motion, no loss of muscle strength, and was not more than moderate in severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for his requested hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and extent of his psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and the severity of his service-connected left arm shell fragment wound residuals.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.