PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding his PTSD and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to an event during active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's timely notice of disagreement (NOD) was filed regarding the October 2008 decision, but denied his claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The RO assigned a 100% disability rating effective September 18, 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as due to military sexual trauma (MST). The Veteran's accounts of the MST are credible and supported by medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is related to his exposure to sunlight in service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The claim seeking an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is as likely as not attributable to service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by symptoms that resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's current PTSD with a depressive disorder is found to be due to fear of hostile military activity during his service in Vietnam, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to July 18, 2006 and denied for a higher rating. For the period beginning on July 18, 2006, he was granted a 50 percent evaluation but still denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and adjudication, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with appropriate notice regarding his claim for a total rating based on unemployability due to PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for substance use disorders on a secondary basis to his service-connected PTSD. The Board has determined that another VA examination, by a different examiner, is needed to determine the nature and etiology of all acquired psychiatric disorders present during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and coronary artery disease have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, entitling him to a TDIU.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for PTSD, effective January 20, 2009. The Veteran's service-connected prostate disability is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD are being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the lumbar spine disability, and failure to provide a VA psychiatric examination as requested in the September 2013 remand order.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, secondary to his service-connected low back disability was denied. His claim for a higher evaluation for the same condition also failed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with chronic alcohol abuse is denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a confirmed stressor for PTSD, and thus could not establish service connection. The claims for lung cancer and brain cancer were also denied as there was no evidence of a causal relationship to active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and his PTSD warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The effective date for these determinations has not been established.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged and the GI disability continues to be rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA and VA treatment records, scheduling a PTSD examination, and readjudicating the TDIU issue.