PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

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for gout has been granted, and his request to reopen a claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle rash was withdrawn.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The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for a low back disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as gastroesophageal reflux disease and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).

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires additional development, including a VA examination for PTSD and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, and it is granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA, as well as service personnel records.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability and an increased rating for the left clavicle disability. The Veteran's claims are now substantiated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rated at 20 percent or more do not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code due to his advanced educational attainments and transferable past employment skills.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not have tinnitus and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.