PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since March 2014. The VA determined that the symptoms and overall impairment from his PTSD more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to a degree warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at the date of receipt of his reopened claim on February 2, 2009.,Both right shoulder and lower back disabilities were reopened based on new evidence submitted since the January 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 12, 2016. Prior to that date, the rating was 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent prior to August 31, 2012 and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and service personnel files.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death. The Board also finds that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with a related major depression and episodic alcohol abuse condition more likely than not contributed to his death from a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) resulting from a pericallosal aneurysm.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in symptoms such as mood disturbances, avoidance, irritability, sleep disturbances, and difficulty in establishing social relationships. The VA determined that these symptoms warrant a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new PTSD examination. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD and depressive disorder), including adjustment disorder with anxiety, is not service connected as it is a symptom of his service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder. Night sweats are also not service connected as they are attributed to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, but finds that he has an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 17, 2010 and increased to 70 percent effective March 24, 2016. The current rating of 70 percent is maintained.

The Board found that the reduction of compensation due to incarceration was proper and granted the Veteran's appeal, effectively dismissing the case as the issue has been resolved.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that the symptomatology and occupational/social impairment caused by PTSD are fully addressed in the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD disability has been rated at 30 percent since March 19, 2008. The November 2008 rating decision denied an increased rating for PTSD, and the June 2015 decision granted a 50 percent rating effective May 30, 2012. The Veteran continues to appeal for higher ratings.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with bulging disc, taking into account functional impairment. The appeal for PTSD and other psychiatric conditions is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.