PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 19, 2010. The Board increased the rating to 70 percent effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including a right ankle disability, respiratory disorder, urinary tract disorder, skin disorder, pelvic disorder, BPH, psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and sleep disorder, was denied as the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, the highest available under VA guidelines for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hip osteoarthritis and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU effective October 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence to corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors, leading to a denial of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His left knee disability remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is granted for service connection for shin splints and the effective date of September 1, 2007. The claim for an increased rating for major depression disorder with PTSD remains pending. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not etiologically related to an in-service event, but rather more likely due to his post-service occupation as a police officer. As such, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examination and the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Nevada State Mental Hospital and VA medical centers. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective July 15, 2010. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for a heart disability secondary to PTSD and seeking an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 100 percent, effective March 12, 2014. This renders moot the issue of entitlement to a TDIU as his PTSD alone already meets the criteria for a 100% rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or an anxiety disorder, NOS. The VA examiner concluded that there is no evidence supporting these diagnoses.,Regarding erectile dysfunction, the Board noted that it could not be determined if this condition was related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claimed memory loss and TBI are not service-connected as they are related to non-service connected conditions or do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is not service-connected due to lack of credible supporting evidence for a claimed in-service stressor related to military sexual assault, and the examination did not find any current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. The left elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disorders are denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected condition. The thoracolumbar spine disorder, testicular pain, chest pain (costochondritis), stomach pain, and headaches are also denied.