PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding mental health treatment records and addressing both his PTSD rating claim and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to January 2, 2015 and in excess of 70 percent disabling therefrom.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner who conducted the March 2014 examination. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is now before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death, which occurred due to cardiac arrest caused by arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Board finds that the weight of evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the service-connected PTSD contributed to the cause of death and grants DIC based on service connection for the cause of death. As this provides a greater benefit than nonservice-connected death pension, the claim for pension benefits is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to August 16, 2011, but not total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to address the etiology of any current psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD. The Veteran's service treatment records reflect no pre-existing psychiatric disability at entry into active service in April 1976.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, which is granted as a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including intrusive thoughts and recollections, distressing dreams, avoidance of crowds, irritability, difficulty trusting people, concentration problems, hyperarousal, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, restricted range of affect, and occasional panic attacks, result in mild occupational and social impairment. The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating represents the maximum schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling an RO hearing. The issues on appeal include ratings for various conditions and disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction was denied as he does not have penile deformity.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of erectile dysfunction was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an additional VA examination to determine the current symptoms, social impairment, and occupational impairment due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD disability was increased to a 50 percent rating effective December 31, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and onychomycosis, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertension. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted effective July 22, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The claims of reopening service connection for respiratory and psychiatric disabilities, as well as seeking an initial disability rating for chronic sinusitis, are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his in-service stressors and service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective from June 1, 2014. The earlier submitted evidence during the one-year period after the April 2010 rating decision is considered part of the pending original claim received on June 15, 2009.