PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

Since September 29, 2005, the Veteran's PTSD has not met the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran is diagnosed with PTSD and has experienced a verified in-service stressor, leading to service connection being granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, bladder control problem, and bowel incontinence are denied. The Veteran is granted service connection for kidney disorder as a complication of his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus with renal insufficiency. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted with an initial noncompensable disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 23, 2003, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with a total disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 14, 2007 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted. The effective date is set at November 1, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 30 percent disability rating effective August 14, 2008. Service connection was also established for residuals of a left foot fracture and a back condition. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition, skin condition, right hip condition, and right knee condition were not service connected.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, and his claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating for PTSD or a finding of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and PTSD, as well as his TDIU claim, were all denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30%.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also part of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and physical impairments, are of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms. The claims for bilateral hip, foot, and hand disorders were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for service-connected PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and his reported stressors are consistent with such engagement. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder. The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and a higher rating for diabetes mellitus were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the failure to appear for VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The Board will attempt to obtain any relevant treatment records and provide the Veteran with a new opportunity to substantiate his claims.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for benign essential hypertension, including as secondary to the service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been dismissed. His appeal regarding an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported stressors are credible and consistent with his combat service, and thus finds that he meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The TDIU rating claim is also inextricably intertwined with this issue.