PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection was granted, with a 60% rating assigned for residuals of right knee replacement since May 1, 2010. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU from May 1, 2010 to July 14, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. His TBI with cognitive disorder and adjustment disorder with depressed mood is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dislocated ribs have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD due to in-service stressors and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are found to be service-connected as they are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for hemorrhoids and service connection for left ear hearing loss have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the remaining claims.

The Veteran's PTSD with a history of alcohol and cocaine abuse was not manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity between October 16, 2010 and January 18, 2013. Between January 19, 2013 and April 28, 2013, the Veteran's PTSD met the schedular criteria for a 70 percent evaluation. The Veteran's PTSD with a history of alcohol and cocaine abuse did not meet the schedular criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent between April 29, 2013 and May 20, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The effective date remains at the date of original claim, September 6, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's reports regarding in-service stressors will be considered.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no credible evidence linking them to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine for an 80 percent rating and render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 17, 2003. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise and concludes that a 100 percent rating for PTSD from this date is warranted due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining all relevant VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also part of the appeal and must be addressed concurrently.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye/vision disability, PTSD, and a lung disorder were denied by the Board in October 2014. The appeal is currently pending before the Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims (Court).,The issues of service connection for a lung disorder and an eye/vision disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and Parkinson's disease, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has granted a TDIU for the entire appellate period.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims currently on appeal, including those related to type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PTSD, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal is dismissed.