PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including depression, anxiety, sleep impairment, and memory loss, were found to meet the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating as of August 26, 2003. The effective date is set at that time.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current sleep disorder (other than his service-connected PTSD) is not related to service and cannot be considered secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and left ear hearing loss. The claim for right ear hearing loss was reopened based on new evidence, but service connection was not granted.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service. The case will be remanded for further examination and adjudication.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's insomnia is a symptom of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 6, 2011. The TDIU claim is also granted effective from the same date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 3, 2013 is being remanded due to the need to obtain employment records and determine if he is entitled to extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders present during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records from Frankfurt Army Hospital in Germany and reviewing Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to clarify his most appropriate diagnosis and determine whether his current psychiatric disorder(s) are causally related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing his appeals for service connection on all issues.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and spine and right knee disabilities, but severed service connection for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, and limitation of flexion in the right knee is set at April 27, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD has been productive of occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 20, 2011. The Board found the evidence more nearly approximating a 70 percent disability evaluation throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was evaluated at 50 percent from November 22, 2002 until October 11, 2006. From October 12, 2006 to the present, he has been rated at 70 percent for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not worsened to the extent that would warrant a higher rating, as his disability still results in reduced reliability and productivity but does not meet the criteria for more severe impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's non-service connected hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective as of his retirement in 2008 due to service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture, warranting no extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating of 50 percent for the period from May 23, 2008 to July 26, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death before a decision was made by the Board.