PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since August 28, 2007. This rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as markedly diminished participation in activities, feelings of detachment from others, restricted range of affect, insomnia, irritability or outbursts of anger, exaggerated startle response in response to loud noises, difficulties with concentration, and hypervigilance.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, and the Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The claim for increased rating for residuals of SFW of the right lower extremity with Muscle Group (MG) XI damage and with retained foreign bodies (RFBs) was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the effective date of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD results in reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was unable to timely file his appeal due to mental health issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has keloids on his chest and back, right ear hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, right knee bursitis with chondromalacia, bilateral flat feet with degenerative changes of both feet, and stress related headaches. The Veteran's service connection claims are granted as his conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records. The issue of an increased rating for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and PTSD were denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met at any point during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, representing a full grant of benefits for this issue.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD with MDD, which is attributable to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination and the need for an updated opinion considering all service-connected disabilities, including non-service-connected conditions. The examiner must also provide examples of employment the Veteran would be qualified for with his current level of disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, as well as arranging for new VA examinations to assess the severity of his coronary artery disease, PTSD, and other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are not met.

The Veteran timely filed a notice of disagreement with the March 2010 rating decision which denied service connection for PTSD, stomach condition, headaches, fatigue, sleep condition, and skin rash. The appeal is granted as to these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The psychiatric disability was also denied, with the examiner finding no current diagnosis of PTSD or other chronic acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and conflicting information regarding the Veteran's service in Germany. The Veteran is requested to provide private psychiatric treatment records, clarify his service record with DPRIS, and undergo a VA PTSD examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to be productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his depressive disorder is not related to service. The claim for secondary service connection for depressive disorder due to coronary artery disease will be remanded for further development.