PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and anxiety, is found to be etiologically related to his military service. Service connection for PTSD has been granted. The right elbow disability claim was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 10 percent from June 4, 2008 to April 24, 2013 and 70 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU prior to January 1, 2015 has also been granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for hypertension, depression, PTSD, adjustment disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and erectile dysfunction prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral flatfoot, hallux valgus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and paranasal sinusitis. The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a current examination.

The Veteran is attempting to revisit his prior claims for service connection, but the Board finds no valid theory of entitlement to an earlier effective date. The documents resulting in the grant of service connection were State records rather than service records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and post-traumatic stress disorder, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is rated at 70 percent since July 13, 2015. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU effective July 13, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining missing treatment records and service personnel records. A VA examination is also required if a current psychiatric disorder is diagnosed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board has denied a higher rating.,The Veteran is granted TDIU effective October 21, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for myositis, right lumbar paravertebral muscles and granted it. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to his service-connected back condition.,VA will schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions concerning knee arthralgia and right ankle fracture and tibiotalar fusion are etiologically related to his now service-connected myositis, right lumbar paravertebral muscles.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected as his service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The Appellant is therefore denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's PTSD disability picture more closely approximates an occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been shown to cause total occupational and social impairment, thus the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent is denied. The issues regarding bilateral hearing loss disability and gastrointestinal condition are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since August 21, 2007. Prior to that date and from October 28, 2010, the rating was not higher.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent since October 1, 2012. The rating reflects significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, PTSD, bilateral pes planus, hammertoes of the left foot and right foot, as well as TDIU was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to October 30, 2009 resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. Reduced reliability and productivity were noted from August 1, 2009 through September 16, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of PTSD, but finds that he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of depressive disorder. The claim is therefore granted in part and denied in part.