PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to obtain private treatment records, personnel records, and VA treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence obtained.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, and if so, whether that claim can be granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), are found to be related to his service and granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for scars of the penis and scrotum. The new evidence received is sufficient to reopen this claim, but further development is needed to determine if there was a groin injury during service and whether it caused any current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by symptoms that resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not the level of impairment required for a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to September 17, 2015 and increased to 50 percent thereafter.,Cervical spine strain was rated at noncompensable prior to September 16, 2015 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.,Thoracic/lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 16, 2015 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be causally related to his wartime service in Iraq, and the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder and denied service connection for PTSD. For bilateral hearing loss, while the Veteran contends his hearing issues are related to noise exposure in Vietnam, there is no evidence of any hearing problems during service or within one year post-service, and he did not seek treatment until after separation. As such, service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the AOJ for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local VA office. The Veteran has requested a Board videoconference hearing, but his request was received prior to any Board consideration of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, lumbar arthritis, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to May 16, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since July 10, 2008. He also received a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, relates to service. The claim is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a verified in-service stressor sufficient to cause PTSD, and thus service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to August 29, 2007 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia, are at least as likely as not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 8, 2002 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's appeal is now pending as to any earlier effective dates.