PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. As a result, the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to November 7, 2011 and increased to 70 percent effective from that date. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with depression and alcoholism is incurred during service, as evidenced by his imprisonment in service. The evidence is in relative equipoise on all material elements of this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, epididymitis, and diabetes mellitus type 2 are service-connected due to exposure to noise in service for hearing loss, treatment of epididymitis during active duty, and presumed exposure to herbicides respectively. The psychiatric disorder claim is pending as it relates to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been withdrawn. The Board has also determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 40 percent disability rating for his urethra stricture, chronic urethritis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU. Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher disability rating for PTSD. The RO has already increased the rating to 50 percent as of July 19, 2010. This decision now focuses on whether he was entitled to a higher rating prior to that date and since.

The Veteran's PTSD most nearly approximates deficiencies in most areas of work, school, family relationships, thinking, judgment, and mood without total occupational and social impairment. The criteria for a 70 percent disability rating have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The appeal is for an increased rating, but no new evidence was submitted to reopen previously denied claims for low back and bilateral hip disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to April 17, 2014. The rating period on appeal shows symptoms such as chronic sleep impairment, anxiety, depression, irritability, low frustration tolerance, impaired impulse control, disturbances of motivation and mood, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, suicidal ideation, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 14, 2009 for the grant of service connection for PTSD based on new and material evidence received within one year of the Veteran's discharge from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, as well as obtaining additional records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is being reviewed.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent rating prior to June 12, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 15, 2011 for the increase to 30 percent disability for pes planus was granted. The effective date is set at February 18, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence linking his current anxiety disorder to service. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is currently rated at 50 percent. The symptoms described align with the criteria for a 50 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent evaluation, the maximum authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The disability does not present an exceptional picture so as to warrant referral for extra-schedular consideration.