PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, and gastrointestinal disability. The claim for sleep apnea was not reopened.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since June 20, 2005. The effective date for TDIU has been set to June 20, 2005.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection have been considered. The appeals are currently in the denial stage.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the right acromioclavicular joint, synovitis of the right and left knees, bilateral pes planus, and deviated septum. The case is being remanded to issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) addressing these issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and granted a rating in excess of 10 percent for healed fracture, left wrist. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for healed fracture, right thumb is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus and PTSD with depression. The other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and the case is remanded to consider his TDIU claim in light of this award.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 2011, and he is now considered unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a mood disorder. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD that is likely the result of a traumatic event during his military service, and the Board finds this condition meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from May 2011. The Veteran previously had a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an audio malfunction during his hearing, and he has been requested for another Video Conference hearing.

The Veteran died in May 2012 from cardiopulmonary arrest, with underlying causes including interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis. The death was not due to service-connected disabilities, so the claim for increased burial benefits is denied.

The Veteran's back injury is rated at 20 percent, effective June 26, 2013. The Board found that an increased rating was warranted for the orthopedic residuals of a back injury prior to June 26, 2013 and from June 26, 2013 onwards. Separate noncompensable ratings were assigned for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate examination report and failure to address a specific opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension, service-connected diabetes mellitus, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the impact of PTSD on the Veteran's employment. The claims for increased rating for PTSD and TDIU will be addressed after this development.