PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and the combined evaluation of his service-connected disabilities remains at 60 percent. The propriety of the combined rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim for a skin disorder. The Veteran's right wrist, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and/or hiatal hernia), and psychological disorder other than PTSD have been found to be related to service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. However, the Board found that there is no diagnosis of PTSD and denied the claim.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a skin condition other than psoriasis was also granted. The evidence added since the last denial suggests that the current diagnosis of psoriasis may be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse is currently rated at 70 percent, effective June 24, 2015. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic back disability and PTSD, as well as his claim for TDIU were denied. His initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance is denied as he does not meet the criteria of being helpless or so nearly helpless that he requires regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency prior to June 29, 2015. From June 29, 2015, the disability picture indicated total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service and the Board grants service connection for an unspecified neurocognitive disorder with mild executive dysfunction and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to November 6, 2013 for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for PTSD has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to February 7, 2012, and at 70 percent thereafter.,For the period prior to April 26, 2011, the Veteran's dermatitis was rated at 0 percent; for the period beginning April 26, 2011, it was rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon disorder. The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or depressive disorder). The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for each lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, diabetes mellitus, tobacco and nicotine abuse, myalgia, myositis, vitamin B-complex deficiency, dysthesthenia, PVD, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The remaining claim of entitlement to increased rating for ischemic heart disease is addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 50 percent since January 1, 2010. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD are met.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), and right ear hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that the new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's low back disorder and PTSD with depression are not service-connected, but the VA has assigned a 70% evaluation for PTSD. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating as his PTSD does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD was granted, with a current evaluation of 70 percent. The claims for TDIU and secondary service connection were also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depression. The claim for a right hip disability is pending and will be remanded for further examination. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a DRO hearing. The primary issue remains the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.