PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD with bipolar disorder and alcohol dependence are related to his in-service physical and sexual assault, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to March 5, 2015, and service connection for coronary artery disease secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective November 30, 2011. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood, due to near-continuous depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriate and effectively; impaired impulse control such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work; and the inability to establish and maintain effective relationships from February 29, 2008 to November 23, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Pittsburgh VAMC since February 2014 and providing an updated VA examination by a psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and related psychiatric disability, but the effective date remains at April 1, 2010. The Veteran's earlier claim of April 5, 2007 is considered, along with other relevant medical records to determine when exactly PTSD was first manifested.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective from July 18, 2014. This decision is based on her new and material evidence submitted after the January 2007 denial of a mental condition (depression).

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experiences. The issue of service connection for a recurrent skin disorder remains under consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work and relationships. The disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to January 17, 2013. For the period prior to October 8, 2010, he was granted TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is related to military service or due to his PTSD, and scheduling a gastrointestinal examination to determine if any gastrointestinal disorders are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for nonservice-connected pension benefits, service connection for a bilateral eye disorder (claimed as semi-blindness), and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The decision is final for the denial of the bilateral eye disorder claim.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is currently rated at 70 percent disabling from June 11, 2011. The Board has determined that the criteria for a rating of 70 percent have been met.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as her May 2007 denial was final, and she did not file a timely NOD or submit new and material evidence within one year.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to January 20, 2012, due to symptoms such as flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder have been granted service connection, but his claim for a compensable rating for herpes progenitalis is remanded.

The Veteran died from respiratory arrest/pneumonia, with underlying causes including congestive heart failure/coronary artery disease, renal failure, and multiple system atrophy (MSA). The service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. There is no evidence linking the metallic foreign bodies from gunshot wounds to MSA.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted service connection. His hypertension and shoulder disabilities were each granted a 20% disability rating.