PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since March 4, 2008, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including diagnoses of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The appellant's current low back disorder is also considered related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, an increased rating for PTSD, and a higher initial rating for GERD. The TDIU claim was remanded but not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating for service-connected residuals of a TBI was denied. The Board found that the manifestations of his cognitive impairment, such as memory loss and attention difficulties, were not clearly differentiated from those of his PTSD. As a result, he is currently rated at 10 percent for TBI residuals.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is denied because the criteria for SMC were met as of September 21, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 9, 2014. The rating reflects the severity of his symptoms and impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD with panic disorder and agoraphobia was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board denied service connection. The criteria for entitlement to a TDIU have not been met.

The appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing before the Board at the RO. The Veteran's claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are not related to his military service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant was denied as she does not meet the criteria for assistance due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing due to his request. The main issues are related to the evaluation of PTSD and seeking an earlier effective date, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted, with a current rating of 30 percent.,Service connection is established for PTSD, currently rated at 30 percent. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that is etiologically related to service, and the Board finds no evidence of a stressor event in-service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as there is no diagnosis of PTSD in conformity with established criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, blood in urine/hematuria, and hypogonadism. The Veteran's PTSD and status post laminectomies L4-5 disabilities are currently rated at their maximum levels.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of her delimiting date for receiving Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill is granted, as she was prevented from initiating or completing a chosen program of education due to her diagnosed PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent effective February 26, 2008 to February 29, 2012. The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy or hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical center records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service incident.