PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension. The case is being remanded to issue a Statement of the Case on his claims for increased rating and earlier effective date for PTSD, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to June 1, 2016 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. However, the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has directed the VA to schedule a new examination for PTSD and remand the TDIU claim due to incomplete information in the previous examinations. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a video-conference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his service-connected PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD and right knee degenerative changes, status post ACL reconstruction was denied. The Veteran is presumed to seek the highest possible benefit.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development due to a lack of hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy prior to June 10, 2011, in excess of 10 percent from June 10, 2011 to May 9, 2016, and a compensable rating thereafter. The Veteran's claims for service connection were also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his in-service stressor, and he is granted service connection for this condition. However, the back disability is not found to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service from November 28, 2000, to May 28, 2004, was discharged under Other Than Honorable (OTH) conditions due to misconduct. Therefore, this period of service is considered a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, heart disability, and arthritis of the bilateral knees are still pending.

The Veteran is found to be unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, type II, right below the knee amputation associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, PTSD, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, right foot ulcer, impotency, and amputation of the right third toe. The Board granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in his PTSD disability rating is being remanded due to the need for a local hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA psychological examination and a more detailed description of the Veteran's work history.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder was denied as there is no basis to assign an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, panic disorder, depression, anxiety), and sleep apnea have been granted. The scar of the right breast is rated at 10%.,Service connection has also been established for anemia with a rating of 10%. A higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the disability rating for his service-connected PTSD, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted and rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, clarifying employment history, and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.