PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's death was caused by cocaine toxicity, but the Board is remanding to determine if his PTSD aggravated or caused this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to symptoms of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only, is denied as he does not meet the criteria for 'permanent loss of use of one or both feet' within the context of 38 C.F.R. § 3.808.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation from April 22, 2010 to November 9, 2010 and from January 1, 2011. The Board also denied referral for extraschedular consideration of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 8, 2013, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is not related to his active service. The heart condition is found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no current medical diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that his current psychiatric condition is related to his period of active service. His claim for an increased disability rating for lumbar strain is also denied.

The Board has ordered a remand due to insufficient explanation of the less probative value assigned to private medical evidence, failure to consider all pertinent evidence, and not considering staged ratings. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination for his PTSD with alcohol abuse in remission.

The Board found that there is no credible supporting evidence of the Veteran's in-service stressor and his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, service connection for PTSD and Depression was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD more closely approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating, warranting an increase from the current 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing correspondence and missed examination. The Veteran will be asked again to submit information corroborating a sexual or personal assault during service, and he will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further consideration due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bipolar disorder as separate from his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has been denied. His claim for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder is also denied, as the evidence does not support a finding that his current disability level warrants a higher evaluation.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective June 2, 2010. The Veteran's DM remains rated at 10 percent prior to June 2, 2010 and 20 percent beginning June 2, 2010. TDIU was denied as the evidence does not establish that the Veteran became unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 2, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for atrial fibrillation, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and COPD as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's disabilities were not found to be directly related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and PTSD have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 13, 2005.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran has current diagnoses of major depressive disorder and PTSD related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

For the period prior to April 23, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships but without evidence of total occupational and social impairment. The criteria for an initial evaluation of 70 percent have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD from April 20, 2010, to April 21, 2015 was denied.