PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, depression and anxiety, as well as hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety. However, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to lack of a nexus between the current diagnoses and active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include PTSD, sleep disorder, and unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD was not shown to be productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment from July 19, 2012 to April 10, 2015. Therefore, the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service sexual assault. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, hepatitis C, a right knee disorder, and erectile dysfunction are also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD and depressive disorder are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (claimed as skin cancer) is found to be related to service and granted. The heart condition claim is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's benign prostate hypertrophy (claimed as prostate condition) is not presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure, but the Board finds it more likely than not that it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete or unclear evidence, and the Veteran's representative requested a new examination for his hearing loss. The issues of service connection for PTSD/Depression, gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are now before the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to October 9, 2015 and increased to 70 percent effective October 9, 2015.,For the period prior to October 9, 2015, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The diagnoses of these conditions are based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical evidence supporting their etiology.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol abuse is not manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD at this time.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum rating available for this condition. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with the current 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a urology examination to determine if he has a penile deformity or abnormality as a result of his circumcision in service and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disability.

PTSD was manifested by symptoms causing occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood from May 28, 2012 to October 20, 2016.,PTSD was manifested by symptoms causing no more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the claim remains denied.,Service connection for a left hip condition is also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of PTSD, and the Board has dismissed the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and vocational rehabilitation records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is pending.