PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her claims, including for service connection for Meniere's disease and an initial rating for PTSD.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he claims is related to witnessing the death of his friend during an explosion aboard USS AMERICA. The VA has not verified this alleged stressor event and the Veteran's depression and PTSD symptoms are already on record. A remand is ordered to attempt verification of the stressor, obtain additional treatment records, and provide a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 30 percent disability rating since February 24, 2010.

The Veteran's right foot disorder, including a chronic foot strain and plantar fasciitis, was incurred in service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this finding.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied a rating higher than 50 percent prior to September 4, 2012 and denied a rating higher than 70 percent as of that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right wrist ganglion cyst have been granted effective February 25, 2014. The Board found no evidence of a left foot disability or any other condition that would warrant an earlier effective date. The Veteran is also determined to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically addressing whether it is related to service and caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD based on a corroborated in-service stressor, and his service-connected peptic ulcer disease was manifested by incapacitating episodes of symptoms 2 to 3 times per year lasting 4 days at a time, daily abdominal pain and nausea, weekly vomiting, persistent daily diarrhea, but no anemia. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and higher initial rating for peptic ulcer disease were both denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for right hemicolectomy. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to service. The claim for right hemicolectomy was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is considered secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder, including as secondary to the service-connected PTSD, has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of identification of an available VA medical facility for his service-connected bronchial asthma and other conditions. The case will be readjudicated based on this information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA and private treatment records, as well as any updated vocational rehabilitation records. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, the minimum rating for this condition. The VA examiner found that the Veteran experiences occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, hypervigilance, and avoidance of triggers.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. He is found to have current diagnoses of herpes, residuals of a right hand injury, residuals of a head injury (including PTSD), and tinnitus that are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective May 23, 2013. The rating reflects total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriate and effectively.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by severe symptoms resulting in deficiencies in most areas, including interpersonal relations and mood. The Board finds the evidence supports a grant of an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and whether it is secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 29, 2015. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, intermittent illogical speech, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently.