PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to March 7, 2008. The rating was granted as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his PTSD claim, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to new evidence from a VA psychiatrist-examiner and records from the Autism Society of Minnesota. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and new and material evidence have been denied. The left wrist disability is not rated higher than 10 percent. Service connection for cold weather injuries, vision impairment, and an acquired psychiatric disability are not established. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as chronic sleep impairment, depression, anxiety, frequent and violent nightmares occurring several times weekly, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. As a result, the Board finds an initial rating of 50 percent is warranted for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of all current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service connection claim is pending and will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling effective December 11, 2009. The Board has granted an increased rating to 70 percent during the course of this appeal and as such, it impacts the TDIU effective date.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a current psychiatric disability, likely PTSD or another acquired psychiatric condition. Service connection is also established for sleep apnea. The claim for cluster headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired anxiety disorder, to include PTSD, is manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as: impaired short-term memory; anger; anxiety; depressed mood; and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizures and psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD, are not related to military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board finds that there is no medical nexus between his current hearing loss disability and service.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7522 as he does not have physical deformity of the penis with loss of erectile power. The VA examiner found no penile deformity in the Veteran's case.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms which most closely equate to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9411. The Board finds that there is no medical evidence of record supporting an increase in disability rating beyond this level.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not, either individually or collectively, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher initial rating for PTSD and a TDIU have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating for PTSD, currently rated as 30 percent disabling prior to April 3, 2014, and as 70 percent disabling thereafter.

The Veteran's application for waiver of premiums on Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) was denied because he did not file his insurance application prior to his 65th birthday, making him ineligible under the applicable laws and regulations.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 50 percent is warranted.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent each for the right and left lower extremities. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 3, 2016 and at 70 percent thereafter. The appeal is granted with these ratings.

The Veteran's authorized representative withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 100 percent throughout the entire period of the claim, resulting in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating since the effective date of service connection on April 20, 2009.