PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for himself and requires the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the August 2016 examiner regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) was aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue and must be deferred.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and PTSD have been granted service connection, but hypertension remains unresolved. The Board denied the claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating from March 22, 2011 to December 23, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to February 27, 2015 more nearly approximated the degree of occupational and social impairment contemplated by a 30 percent schedular rating. From February 27, 2015 to December 20, 2016, they more nearly approximated the degree of occupational and social impairment contemplated by a 50 percent schedular rating. Since December 20, 2016, their symptoms more nearly approximated the degree of occupational and social impairment contemplated by a 70 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current state of the Veteran's PTSD, and both increased rating for PTSD and TDIU claims are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for gastritis and scars were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of credible support evidence of the claimed in-service stressor for PTSD, and there was no evidence of severe hemorrhages or multiple small eroded or ulcerated areas for gastritis. For scars, the Veteran's scars were rated as stable with no unstable or painful ones.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various joint conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the back, neck, shoulders, knees, hips, ankles, and elbows/arms are granted. The specific diagnoses include PTSD, right ankle condition, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hip conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, and a left elbow/arm condition.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claim for TBI and denied the service connection claims for psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The remaining issues are REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted, as it was reopened on August 10, 2007 with new and material evidence provided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective as of the date of the decision. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and forgetfulness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service assault and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for a hydrocele of the right testicle remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted. The claims of service connection for a right hip condition, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and low back condition were both reopened due to new evidence received since the July 1998 rating decision. However, the status of his bilateral pes planus disability remains unclear.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and for obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD in January 2009. The Veteran did not appeal this decision and it became final. New evidence submitted since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD due to MST, GERD, hyperthyroidism, and muscle spasm of the right shoulder. The new evidence received since the final denial supports these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, are related to his active service experiences in Japan during World War II. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.