PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches.,Service connection has been granted for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis. The Veteran's skin disorder is also service connected as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis. Service connection has not been established for a respiratory disorder or sleep disturbance.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions. Other claims of service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss increased in severity during his second period of active service, and the Board has granted service connection by way of aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability and right hip disability. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim of residuals of brain injury (PTSD). Additionally, the Board determined that there was no causal relationship between any of the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for traumatic brain injury with PTSD and anxiety remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA mental health examination. The TDIU claim will also be re-evaluated based on the updated claims file.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim for the acquired psychiatric disorder was denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence corroborating his claimed in-service stressors, while the skin disorder claim is pending as it relates to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right true vocal cord invasive squamous cell carcinoma and surgical residuals thereof due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's PTSD is also service connected, but the issues of a higher initial evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent and later increased to 50 percent. The current rating of 50 percent is maintained as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with encephalopathy and memory loss is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was initially denied in October 1999. He sought to reopen the claim on multiple occasions, and his most recent attempt resulted in a grant of service connection with an effective date of October 23, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened and granted. He is now rated at 70 percent for PTSD with depression and anxiety from August 31, 2010 to September 30, 2012.,Prior to August 31, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety was rated at 30 percent. From August 31, 2010 to September 30, 2012, he is rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was reopened based on the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that he has DJD, which is not related to his military service.,PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% rating due to insufficient severity, but they do result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social deficiencies, warranting a 70 percent rating from March 28, 2008. Since March 11, 2010, the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, COPD, emphysema, and a back disability are granted. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling the Veteran for a VA audiological examination to assess his hearing loss, and scheduling him for a VA examination to determine the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the September 2007 rating decision, which granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of February 2, 1999. The Veteran's original claim for PTSD dated December 11, 1984, is considered to be the earliest date of entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had a pending claim for service connection for PTSD at the time of his death, and as he served in combat in Vietnam, service connection is granted.