PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was withdrawn. The effective date of the increased rating for bilateral pes planus with arthritis of the feet is set at March 1, 2007. Service connection for Morton's neuroma as secondary to pes planus is granted. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to January 25, 2013. As of January 25, 2013, the rating was increased to 50 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD and TDIU, finding that the effective date of service connection is April 13, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of TDIU and SMC were also addressed.

The Board found no evidence of a left shoulder disability during service and determined that the current left shoulder disability is not related to service. The hypertension, elbow, wrist, back, radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and psychiatric disabilities were also denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted. The effective date of the grant is not specified.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since the claim for increase was filed. A 70 percent rating is granted effective September 10, 2015.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety, incurred or aggravated during service. The VA examination report did not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and rated at 50 percent since the effective date of service connection. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is found to be related to her service. The low back condition is not shown to be causally related to service or presumed due to exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no diagnosed condition. The claim for a right eye disorder is denied as the decrease in vision is attributed to macular degeneration and not related to service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, has not met the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the need to verify alleged in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on verified in-service combat experiences. The claims for skin disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and other conditions are also granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5237 for intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating as it includes incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome lasting at least six weeks during the past twelve months.