PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since April 3, 2005. This rating reflects significant occupational impairment but does not result in total social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot drop, PTSD, and left sacroiliac joint dysfunction with pelvic tilt were denied. The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and military service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum to a VA examination and obtaining the Veteran's treatment records from Central Texas VA Health Care System. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his skin condition due to Agent Orange exposure is service-connected as secondary to PTSD. The Board finds that the evidence supports these determinations.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted by a Decision Review Officer (DRO) prior to the Board making a decision, rendering the appeal moot.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since July 26, 2007.,The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and attempting to corroborate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor of witnessing a plane crash on Osan Air Force Base in Korea.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities. The claims of service connection for PTSD and traumatic brain injury are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder with depression, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service combat experience. The other issues remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected PTSD, which contributed to his death. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD and TDIU are denied as there is no evidence prior to January 28, 2004 that may be considered a formal or informal claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GAD with PTSD had its onset in service and his bilateral hearing loss was incurred and/or aggravated by service. As such, both conditions are granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to new evidence received since the last final denial in 2006. The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 10 percent disabling from October 12, 2004, and higher ratings are not warranted based on current symptoms. Ratings of 10 percent are assigned for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities since February 7, 2011, and effective May 14, 2012, respectively. The low back disability is rated as noncompensable from September 15, 2006, but higher ratings are not warranted based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from May 14, 2012. His degenerative arthritic changes of L5-S1 with spondylosis of the lumbar spine are also rated at 50 percent as of May 14, 2012. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination of his PTSD symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a current evaluation of his service-connected PTSD due to complaints of severe anxiety in recent VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection is denied. The Veteran's symptoms are better explained by depression rather than PTSD.