PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that there is at least a reasonable possibility that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to his active service. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of April 18, 2011 for the establishment of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD with major depression and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's PTSD rendered him unemployable for the period prior to September 24, 2014. His service-connected PTSD alone prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a grant of service connection. The Veteran's account of in-service stressors is credible, and the medical evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective April 6, 2010. The Veteran's original claim for depression with memory loss and mood swings was denied in March 2004 and June 2008 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective October 2015. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent since March 18, 2016 and the Board has granted a total rating based on service-connected disability. The Veteran also qualifies for special monthly compensation under housebound rate provisions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the denial of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 26, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any portion of the period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute to his death from cardiac arrest, as there was no causal relationship between PTSD and heart attack. The Veteran had a history of coronary artery disease prior to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for PTSD before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and Asperger's syndrome, preexisted service. The evidence clearly shows that these conditions were not aggravated by service.

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

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a left wrist condition were denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or current diagnosis, respectively. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, and he is now considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent effective March 12, 2007. The Board denied a higher rating and granted the claim for TDIU prior to September 15, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, and any claimed conditions are not service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective March 2, 2011. The ratings for varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities remain at 10 percent.