PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for gastritis and panic disorder, as well as service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, was granted. The rating for panic disorder has been increased to 70 percent from December 7, 2016 onwards.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for a back disability and psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include depression, has been withdrawn.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 19, 2009 for the award of service connection for PTSD as comorbid with the service-connected TBI. The Veteran's initial claim was filed on July 15, 2009, within one year of his separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum 50% disability rating. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is reopened and new evidence supports a finding that his current psychiatric condition more likely than not began in military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by PTSD, which is related to his service. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. However, the evidence does not support a TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has determined that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or contributed substantially to his death from an acute intracerebral hemorrhage due to deep vein thrombosis. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas. Symptoms of total occupational and social impairment have not been demonstrated.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and bipolar disorder, was rated at 70 percent from June 26, 1998, to October 3, 2004. The Board also considered the issue of an effective date prior to June 26, 1998, for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating prior to April 12, 2012. As of that date, the symptoms were indicative of more severe impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions from a VA examiner regarding service connection and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the effective date for service connection of peripheral sensory neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities has been set to February 28, 2017. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, but he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions do not warrant higher initial ratings.