PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for temporary total rating, service connection for COPD, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claim for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease and PTSD with depression was not addressed as it involves issues referred to another RO.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no legal basis to assign an earlier effective date than August 24, 2010.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, initially manifested in service or is otherwise etiologically related to active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, personality disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitates a grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of service connection for various foot disabilities, back disability, and knee disabilities are addressed in detail below.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in April 2008, and the appeal is being considered based on a new application to reopen the previously denied claim received on May 25, 2011. The effective date for the award of service connection cannot be earlier than May 25, 2011.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for PTSD, but denied service connection due to lack of credible supporting evidence. The lumbar spine disability issue remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was not incurred in active service and is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service and denied his claim. For PTSD, the Board noted that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas as required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and panic disorder with agoraphobia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to a witnessed in-service stressor, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his current conditions did not manifest during service and are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for PTSD and SMC by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance or on account of being housebound.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed PTSD.