PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder have been granted service connection, but the rating for his psychiatric disability has not met the criteria for a higher than 70 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and TDIU, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the March 1985 rating decision that initially denied service connection. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is currently rated as aggravated by his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 3, 2010, with symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is service connected, and he is granted an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability. The left knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is at least as likely as not etiologically related to service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD. The issues of an increased rating for major depressive disorder with psychotic features and alcohol, cannabis, and opiate abuse in remission, and entitlement to TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from Dr. Hoeper and scheduling a VA examination to assess the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, tinea pedis and tinea cruris, polymorphous light eruption (PLE), scars, residual of a shrapnel wound to the right leg, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of malaria. The Veteran's contentions and treatment records indicate current diagnoses.

The Veteran is entitled to specially adapted housing due to multiple disabilities, including the loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with residuals of organic disease or injury that so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. The special home adaptation grant claim is moot.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to September 2, 2008. From September 2, 2008 and ending January 19, 2016, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent. For the period beginning January 20, 2016, the Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea. The TDIU claim also requires clarification of employment status.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a verified in-service stressor sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and granted it. The claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and PTSD, is now reopened for consideration.,Bilateral hearing loss is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing a current disability within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a new examination to assess PTSD severity, and attempting to obtain all pertinent records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships, and neglect of personal appearance and hygiene. However, these symptoms have not resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records.

The Board has ordered additional development due to outstanding VA records and the need for a completed VA Form 21-8940. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from February 11, 2012. The claim for TDIU remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a prostate/scrotal disability were denied. The Board found that the in-service stressors for PTSD could not be verified, and his unspecified depressive disorder was not related to service.