PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the inextricability of his TDIU claim with his PTSD rating claim. The VA must request additional treatment records from a Vet Center and give him an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a result, the Board does not have appellate jurisdiction to review this claim.

The Board found no new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, PTSD, and bilateral pes planus. The service connection claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no medical evidence linking current tinnitus to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unemployable as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened, but the Board finds that new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of both hands have been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is shown to have caused total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and migraine headaches were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and to determine whether the Veteran is entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction from October 10, 2011 forward.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are related to service. The examiner will need to provide opinions regarding the relationship of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is manifest by total occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 28, 2012. The claim for a higher rating is denied as the symptoms do not warrant an increase to a higher rating under the applicable criteria. For TDIU, the Veteran is not rendered unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 11, 2006. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher initial rating of 70 percent have not been met throughout the appeal period. However, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD likely aggravates his hypertension, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD played a material causal role in his suicide, which led to his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation training benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left knee disability, and his service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated appropriately, as are his hearing loss and CTS. His acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, and head injury with headaches and myofascial pain syndrome do not warrant increased ratings. Finally, the Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dementia due to diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, residuals of a deviated nasal septum (withdrawn), left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board is also remanding the claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to result in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but not severe enough for a higher rating. The initial ratings of 10 percent prior to October 30, 2009, and 30 percent from October 30, 2009 to October 13, 2011, were denied.