PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's asbestosis and COPD are presumed to be related to service exposure. His low back disability, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since February 22, 2006. From April 1, 2008, the severity of symptoms more nearly approximated a disability rating of 70 percent.,Resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his TDIU claim from April 1, 2008 is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to address his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an extraschedular rating for posttraumatic stress disorder from March 24, 2009 before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is manifested by symptoms causing total occupational impairment, and the Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for this condition.

The Board is remanding the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his active service. The relaxed evidentiary standard for establishing an in-service stressor will be considered.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total occupational and social impairment from March 8, 2005, to October 1, 2014. The Veteran has also been unemployable due to service-connected PTSD from March 8, 2005, to October 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent from December 14, 2004. The rating is now increased to 30 percent effective November 7, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with no more than occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board grants a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling prior to May 20, 2011 and 50 percent from May 20, 2011 to April 3, 2012. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for any portion of this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his service, and there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of an in-service stressor. The right knee disorder was also found not to be related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. However, the Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus does not meet the criteria for service connection as it is not shown to have had its onset during active duty or be related to any in-service disease or injury, including exposure to herbicides. The acquired psychiatric disorder has also been found not to have met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as his current diagnosis of PTSD, credible supporting evidence that a claimed in-service stressor occurred, and probative medical evidence of a nexus between the diagnosis of PTSD and the in-service stressors are all met.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy, are of such severity as to preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his service as a door gunner in Vietnam, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for PTSD.