PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, and respiratory disorder (COPD). The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's service-connected left elbow fragment tip is rated at 10 percent. Service connection for his left shoulder condition, bilateral eye conditions, hearing loss, hypertension, and lipomas are granted. The acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from Biloxi, Mississippi. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which meets the criteria for a 50% rating based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and determining if additional development is needed. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has been found unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is granted as of June 27, 2014.

The Veteran's initial claim for migraine headaches was denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating prior to December 19, 2012.,For the period beginning on December 19, 2012, the Veteran's migraine headaches have not resulted in frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective December 20, 2012. The Board denied both the claim for an increased rating and the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea is found to have started during active service and is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a chronic knee disability in service, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection based on continuity of symptomatology. The claim for bilateral knee disability is denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is found to be unrelated to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary depression and cannabis abuse has been granted, but the initial evaluation remains at 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and his withdrawal of the claim for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service racial assaults and harassment, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression has been rated as 30 percent disabling since November 1, 2008. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, with the earliest possible effective date being January 26, 2000.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 15, 2008. The Board found that the symptoms of his PTSD warranted this rating as they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to February 20, 2013. His hearing loss also did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.