PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder have been granted increased ratings, with the highest rating of 70 percent effective August 10, 2015. Headaches are rated at 30 percent since September 1, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with depression and alcohol use disorder, resulted in total occupational and social impairment from June 30, 2001 through July 26, 2007. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for this period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his fear of hostile military activity during service, and to obtain a current evaluation of his thoracolumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran did not have hypertension in service or within one year thereafter.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, alcoholism, or posttraumatic stress disorder. The claim was reopened based on new evidence but the Board concluded that the current condition is less likely due to service.

The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD, and the Board finds that service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, and SFW residuals of the right leg, are rated at 90 percent combined. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the issuance of a SOC regarding the character of discharge claim and readjudication of the PTSD service connection claim.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for PTSD is denied as there was no diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-V criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, precludes him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 4, 2009. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU as of July 3, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right ankle disorder, headache disorder, or psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection was denied as there is insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments related to his service-connected disabilities, as well as a Social and Industrial Survey to determine his employability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an undeliverable hearing notice and will schedule a new videoconference hearing at the Regional Office.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 50 percent disabling. The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a TDIU, but the issue of whether he is entitled to an even higher rating for PTSD requires additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's heart disability is etiologically related to his active duty service and grants service connection for a heart disability. The acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, claimed as depression and anxiety, is also found to be related to service, including as secondary to the heart disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disease of the cervical spine, PTSD, degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, diabetes mellitus type II, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and residual scars, rendered him unable to care for himself. The Board found that he required regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the January 2011 decision denying service connection for PTSD was not final, and thus the claim is being reconsidered. The Veteran's diagnoses of anxiety and depression have not been attributed to any in-service event, and service connection for personality and substance abuse disorders is legally precluded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, compression fracture at L2 of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease, left otitis media with ruptured tympanic membrane, left saphenous nerve entrapment, or bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, meet the schedular threshold for a TDIU rating. However, the more probative evidence does not support an inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected conditions.