PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and cold injury residuals have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU effective April 12, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was initially denied in April 1984, but service connection was granted effective March 11, 1992. The Veteran is currently rated at 50% for PTSD.,PTSD has been rated as 30% from March 11, 1992 to September 22, 2003 and 50% thereafter.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be rendered on the Veteran's claims, including for an initial rating evaluation for PTSD and service connection for right ear hearing loss. The TDIU claim will also be remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for anxiety with PTSD is granted as his diagnosis of PTSD is related to an in-service stressful event.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal as he did not file a timely substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 13, 2000 for service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD based on CUE in a September 1997 rating decision. The Veteran argued that there was CUE because evidence available to VA at the time showed in-service treatment for schizophrenia and a clear current diagnosis of that disorder.

The Veteran does not have a low back disability.,The Veteran's current migraine headache disorder is not attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service.,The Veteran does not have PTSD.,The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) is not attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service.,The Veteran does not have a disability manifested by loss of smell attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a 70% disability rating for PTSD and a 10% rating for dysphonia. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep disorder, hypertension, mild cognitive impairment, a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, back disorder, restless leg syndrome, and erectile dysfunction. The decisions were based on the lack of established clinical diagnoses and the absence of evidence supporting secondary service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is etiologically related to his service-connected left shoulder disability, and the Board finds that this condition was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to June 3, 2014. However, the Board found that a rating higher than 70 percent was not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total rating for compensation purposes based on unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on Aid and Attendance/Housebound was dismissed. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on a total disability rating for a single disability and additional disabilities rated at 60 percent or more due to his combined service-connected disabilities not meeting the required percentage.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not found to be related to service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Onychomycosis, onychocryptosis, and onychodystrophy were determined to be due to the service-connected tinea pedis.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, incurred during or related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA psychiatric examination, and scheduling an audiological examination. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated following these actions.

PTSD was initially rated at 50% from July 21, 2011 to August 30, 2012. It was then increased to 70% effective August 30, 2012 and further increased to 100% effective November 4, 2015.,Bulimia Nervosa was initially rated at 70% from August 30, 2012. It remained at this rating until the Veteran's PTSD was also rated at 100%.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with depressive disorder was found to be productive of total occupational impairment prior to August 9, 2012, warranting a 100 percent rating.