PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is attributable to his period of active duty military service, and the Board finds that reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the Veteran. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include a depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision below.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee, PTSD, and degenerative disc disease L5-S1 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records of psychiatric treatment since January 2016 and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic adjustment disorder with dependency, secondary to PTSD, is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at the maximum 100% disability rating due to a temporary total evaluation (TTE). For low back strain, no increased rating is granted as there are no findings warranting an increase beyond the current 50% and 10% ratings. The Veteran does not meet criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 2, 1969, for the award of service connection for PTSD and related symptoms including anxiety and depression is granted. The earliest possible effective date is based on when he initially filed his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from finding or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and found no evidence to support service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board found that his symptoms meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for a minimum compensable rating due to pain for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is granted for the period from August 20, 2008 to March 4, 2013. The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 29, 2015 for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's units were in Korea during his claimed service period. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as there is credible supporting evidence that corroborates his lay assertions of in-service traumatic events. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and it is related to an event in service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since May 2011, and the Board finds that his current symptoms warrant a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and arthritis of the first metatarsal joints have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorders and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including as due to service-connected anemia. The initial disability rating for anemia remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and TBI residuals.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective December 14, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU rating from that date.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, in accordance with VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left knee strain with limitation of motion, and left knee strain with laxity are denied as they were not filed prior to the effective dates established.,The Veteran's claims for right shin splints and left shin splints are denied as they were not filed prior to the effective dates established.