PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's initial claim for depression was granted with a 30 percent rating effective June 9, 2009. The RO increased the rating to 70 percent from February 3, 2016 due to major depressive disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder. The case is being remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, right arm laceration, left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disability. The new evidence submitted since the final decisions raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including providing a VA psychiatric examination and issuing an SOC regarding educational assistance benefits. The appellant's claims of service connection for various conditions are not currently in appellate status.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and resolving his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The initial evaluation for PTSD remains in dispute.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder have been granted service connection, with a 50% rating effective December 8, 2010. The rating was increased to 70% effective December 6, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to evaluate his PTSD and due process development of the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current skin disorder or an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred or aggravated by service-connected disabilities and denied his claim for service connection on a secondary basis. The derivative TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent since May 5, 2016, based on symptoms of near continuous anxiety or depression, maintaining relationships only with his nuclear family, chronic sleep impairment, avoidance behaviors, disturbances of motivation and mood, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, diminished interest in activities, flashbacks, feelings of anger, distrust, and detachment. The Veteran's occupational and social impairment was characterized by reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD, as it was incurred during his military service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is not granted. The claim is denied because the earliest post-service evidence of depression is in 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed brain atrophy is related to his service-connected malaria, and he is granted service connection for this condition. For his PTSD, the Board finds that a rating of 50 percent (the maximum) is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient record to support a service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran will need another VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available. His bilateral hearing loss was initially granted a non-compensable rating and then denied for an increased rating from September 17, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims file is incomplete and there are outstanding issues related to substitution. The case is being remanded for these matters.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he is currently employed and able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder. He also seeks higher ratings for his right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis and chronic low back strain with degenerative changes and herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, is reopened on new evidence. The Board will determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his reported stressors and whether it is proximately due or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran seeks higher ratings for residuals of a right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis. A VA examination is needed to assess the severity of this condition.,The Veteran seeks separate ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The December 2015 VA spine examination findings must be considered in determining whether these conditions warrant separate ratings.,The Veteran seeks separate ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathy. A VA examination is needed to assess the severity of this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse was granted a disability rating of 70 percent effective May 23, 2006. The TDIU claim is granted from May 23, 2006 to August 13, 2007 due to the combined effect of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing VA and private treatment records. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to the impact of a psychiatric disorder on sleep apnea.