PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is medically linked to a verified stressor during active military service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The right ear hearing loss claim will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral tinea pedis, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and sinus congestion, hay fever with headaches. The RO assigned non-compensable evaluations to these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 1, 2014. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms and impairment do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for right arm atrophy and weakness is being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial grant of service connection, and no higher rating is warranted based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total social and occupational impairment throughout the appeal period, with a temporary 100% rating from August 13 to September 30, 2008. The Board granted a permanent 100% rating for PTSD effective September 13, 2014.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which has been variously diagnosed. The Board finds the VA examinations and opinions inadequate and remands the case for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have included sleep impairment, nightmares, irritability, hypervigilance, depressed mood, low energy, and feelings of detachment. These symptoms are indicative of reduced reliability and productivity but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and dysthymia is granted, as his symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD disability. The right elbow laceration residuals are currently rated as 10% disabling.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating prior to December 24, 2012. The evidence showed occasional decrease in work efficiency with intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to PTSD, but generally satisfactory functioning.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains under consideration.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a neurological disability of the upper and lower extremities, including peripheral or axonal neuropathy, which he claims is related to herbicide exposure. The Board has also remanded his cardiovascular disability claim due to VA's failure to obtain all relevant records during the previous appeal.,The Veteran also seeks service connection for a cardiovascular disability, specifically vasovagal syndrome and sinus bradycardia, which he claims is related to herbicide exposure. The Board has also remanded this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU, and the collective evidence on the question of whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have since prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment is relatively evenly balanced.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability was granted. However, his request for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted effective August 3, 2006. The rating for PTSD has been increased multiple times based on the severity of symptoms experienced by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and concluded that his psychiatric conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA psychiatric examination to assess the Veteran's PTSD. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD with depressive features and erectile dysfunction were denied in October 2002. The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction in March 2006, which became final.,In November 2009, VA granted service connection for PTSD with depressive features and erectile dysfunction (as secondary to PTSD) effective March 18, 2009. The Veteran's jaw disability was also granted service connection effective April 7, 2009.