PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD has caused deficiencies in most areas, including work and social functioning. He is now entitled to a higher initial rating of 70 percent for his PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorders have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses of chondromalacia patella, osteoarthritis, and patellofemoral syndrome. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders are denied as the disorders are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection and assigned a 70 percent rating effective September 8, 2009. The Veteran is also entitled to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease from September 18, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric, left jaw, left frontal lobe, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The diagnoses were not supported by evidence or medical opinion.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD and delusional disorder are etiologically related to his military service. The eye disorder is not considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since April 18, 2007. The intermittent fecal incontinence, urgency, and frequency are rated at 30 percent from May 12, 2008 to June 12, 2012, and 60 percent effective June 13, 2012.

Since December 9, 2010, the Veteran's adjustment disorder with PTSD has been rated at 30 percent and his sleep apnea service connection is pending. The Veteran does not have occupational or social impairment that warrants a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as vocational rehabilitation records. The Veteran's unemployability claim will be reconsidered based on the updated evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a gastrointestinal condition, with an effective date of August 25, 2006. The Veteran's gastrointestinal condition is found to be at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, with a 50% rating effective March 6, 2015. The issue of erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected disabilities and/or medications is still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and an initial rating for PTSD have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest available level of disability, a 70 percent evaluation, for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 8, 2015, based on the severity of her symptoms and their impact on her occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus and PTSD, were granted. The hearing loss claim was denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was reopened and granted. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD for VA purposes. Service connection is also granted for sleep apnea, right foot hammertoes, left foot hammertoes, skin disorder (including elbows, knees, and hands), IBS, and GERD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records, including those from the Childersburg VA medical facility after June 2014. The case will be readjudicated following receipt of these records.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for PTSD and a bilateral hip disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records, verifying the Veteran's service dates, and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric or hip disorders.

The Board has determined that the dates of the appellant's active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA need to be verified. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim for PTSD and must be addressed as well.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective September 24, 2003. The Board found that the Veteran's condition causes occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.