PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was denied because there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and thus, no causal relationship between his current PTSD symptoms and military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but generally functioning satisfactorily.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from October 19, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's PTSD prior to December 4, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with secondary alcohol dependence and cannabis abuse, prostate cancer, tinnitus, and ED effective October 18, 2011. The Veteran is currently rated at 50% for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining his complete service treatment records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU are being addressed.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA examination and additional private treatment records, as well as to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of dental trauma and/or TMJ.

The Veteran's service-connected MDD with PTSD has been evaluated at 50 percent prior to February 3, 2016 and 70 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The Veteran claimed he experienced stressors related to Vietnam service but VA determined there was no combat service in Vietnam and insufficient evidence to verify his reported stressors.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse is rated at 70 percent, effective February 25, 2015. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have increased in frequency and severity since his last examination, due to employment issues, alcohol abuse, and hospitalization for substance abuse.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD due to a verified in-service stressor, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, and the effective date is set to August 15, 1969, based on new evidence of a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD or a peripheral nerve disorder of the upper and lower extremities. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder, NOS. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion.

The Board has granted the reduction in disability ratings for PTSD and lumbar strain, but denied discontinuance of SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus was caused by in-service exposure to excessive and harmful noise, resulting in service connection being granted for this condition. The issues of PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and ADHD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective February 23, 2017. The disability has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of depression, anxiety, difficulty in social relationships, but no total occupational and social impairment.