PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and finds no evidence to support service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left tibia scar was denied in May 2013. The evidence submitted since that decision is not new and material.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, gastrointestinal disability (GERD and peptic ulcers), cervical spine disability, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral feet, hemorrhoids, right lower varicose veins, left lower varicose veins, PTSD, right foot bunionectomy scars, left foot bunionectomy scars, and right knee limitation of extension were not incurred in or a result of active duty service.,The Veteran's acne/rosacea/melasma was granted service connection on September 12, 2011, the day after she was discharged from active duty. The effective date for bilateral knee strain was also granted on September 12, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from his therapist at the Springfield Vet Center.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% prior to January 31, 2013. From that date onward, the rating increased to 100%. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective from January 31, 2013.,PTSD symptoms included anger and irritability, difficulty in public places, isolation, and occasional suicidal ideation.

The Board has determined that the service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to the Veteran's death. The respiratory failure and pneumonia that caused his death were not related to service, while the service-connected conditions (cervical spine limitation of motion, left shoulder condition from a gunshot wound, PTSD) are not considered contributory causes of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the availability of outstanding VA treatment records. The case will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not aggravated by medications prescribed to treat his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The current rating of 50 percent is appropriate.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from October 18, 2010 to April 14, 2015 and then increased to 70 percent thereafter. The left knee subpatellar tendonitis warranted a separate 10 percent rating, while the left ankle sprain did not warrant an increase beyond its current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was rated as 50 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.,A separate rating for MDD is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity disorder, finding that her current condition is not related to her period of active duty. The remaining issues on appeal are pending and will require further development as per the April 2015 remand directives.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has found that he does not meet criteria for a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's application for a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective May 6, 1994. The Board found that the evidence supported the conclusion that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and a need to provide rationale for why depression was not linked to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to July 2, 2009. The Board found that the evidence does not support his contention of inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, hepatitis C, and right hand arthritis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,There is no clear indication in the record that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and major depression disorder that is etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event which occurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no verified in-service stressor and the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 30, 2006. The VA determined that the condition still causes significant impairment in most areas, such as work and social interactions.