PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted service connection, while type II diabetes mellitus and back disability are denied. Migraine headaches, PTSD, and major depressive disorder claims remain pending.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from March 27, 2015 to October 21, 2015 due to his service-connected PTSD. However, he had been employed as a school counselor until March 27, 2015 and found it difficult to maintain employment due to his PTSD symptoms.

An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted, effective from the date of the decision.,Service connection for ED as secondary to service-connected hypertension and sarcoidosis is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and penile curvature with erectile dysfunction, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, personality disorder, and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for OSA was withdrawn. The claim of entitlement to increased ratings for residuals of a fragment wound of the left posterior calf muscle group XI and scars of the left posterior calf is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to January 20, 2010, but not in excess of that rating from March 1, 2010.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for OSA.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of SMC based on need for aid and attendance. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including social anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as it would be affected by the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to June 14, 2016 and 70 percent from June 14, 2016 (exclusive of a TTR). The claim for TDIU prior to June 9, 2008 was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, was granted in February 1995 with a 50% disability rating. The effective date of this award is September 12, 1994.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and review of the file, particularly regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service sexual harassment. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks, or Major Depressive Disorder are related to his claimed in-service sexual harassment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current depression and its relation to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the claimed disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical examinations and lack of proper verification of a stressor.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: kidney disease service connection, PTSD rating increase, and PTSD effective date. The Veteran's STRs are incomplete and need to be obtained. A VA examination is needed for the diagnosis of kidney disease related to in-service events. A retrospective opinion on PTSD onset is also required.

The Veteran's PTSD did not cause occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks prior to October 3, 2008. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is, therefore, REMANDED as directed. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's deployment and service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are most like or similar to the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The appeal for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 13, 2012. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating and has remanded for further development.