PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has granted an effective date of October 13, 1989 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to assign a disability rating for the period from October 13, 1989 to August 19, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to conflicting VA treatment records and the need for a new examination to determine if he has PTSD, including as due to military sexual trauma. The issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with anhedonia has been granted a uniform rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of claim.,Service connection for bilateral pes plans and mechanical low back strain prior to October 23, 2012 have not been granted. The Veteran is entitled to a compensable evaluation for mechanical low back strain since October 23, 2012.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was diagnosed as depressive disorder, but the Board determined there is no link between this condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current seizure disability is caused by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus is considered likely caused by the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss. PTSD is linked to a credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 13, 2011, for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that it is factually ascertainable that an increase in PTSD symptomatology occurred on approximately September 13, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to lack of evidence supporting the presence of combat and verified stressors. The claim was not reopened as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) did not have its onset during service. The VA examiners concluded there was no resulting impairment from in-service stressors, thus denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. For bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, the Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective December 10, 2007. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disability in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD to be re-adjudicated alongside his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of PTSD and disabilities of the right elbow, wrist, and hand/finger to include as secondary to service-connected residuals, stab wound, right upper arm, muscle group VI.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at a 30 percent disability rating since February 25, 2008. The Board found that the evidence showed occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, nightmares, and memory problems.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board finds that the severity level of his PTSD prior to June 16, 2010 warrants a rating of 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression, as well as his claim for an effective date earlier than August 1, 2008, to establish his wife as a dependent for VA compensation benefits purposes, are denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 70 percent disabling since May 11, 1999. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the absence of symptoms warranting a 100% evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his symptoms.