PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU has been granted due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities, which meet the schedular threshold requirement.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 1, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, the issuance of a statement of the case regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and aortic valve stenosis, and the inextricability of his TDIU claim with these issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and COPD, which may be related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms more nearly approximate a disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, but denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, and his TBI-related migraine headaches have also been rated appropriately. Both conditions are considered to be service-connected based on their direct relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a current left knee disability and concluded that service connection could not be established.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new VA examination for PTSD. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD and service connection for erectile dysfunction are also being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 26, 2005. The evidence now shows that the disability picture more nearly approximates a 70 percent rating.

The VA determined that the Veteran's PTSD did not warrant an increased rating beyond 30 percent, as his symptoms were consistent with a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment is granted due to his service-connected disabilities resulting from a stroke.

The Veteran's complaints of flu-like symptoms and fatigue are attributed to his service-connected fibromyalgia and PTSD, and the Board finds that these conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection as an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a final rating decision on the issue of competency. The PTSD disability rating will be reconsidered after this.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted throughout the claim period.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since July 31, 2008, effective from the date of the September 2008 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened on December 23, 1997, and granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 50 percent disability rating effective January 6, 2014. His degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine remains at a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death does not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, as his service-connected disabilities were rated less than continuously disabling for a period of at least ten years prior to his death and he was not a former prisoner of war.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.