PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective April 22, 2003. The Board denied an increased rating as the symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation under the applicable criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, which is due to his stressors experienced in service. The Board therefore concludes that, with the benefit of the doubt resolved in the Veteran's favor, a grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is warranted.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, ischemic heart disease, and migraine headaches, as well as in-service exposures.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and eczema were denied. The claim for TDIU was not addressed as it is related to a different issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is caused by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and therefore grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to April 1, 2016. As of April 1, 2016, the rating was increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a total (100%) rating for the entire claim period. The issue of TDIU was rendered moot due to the grant of a total rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent prior to May 14, 2015 and granted a TDIU. The claim for an increased rating is now resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a new orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and any other diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety. The examiner should provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent from September 6, 2007, to May 17, 2010. From May 18, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 60 percent.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder that may be present.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to October 31, 2011 and increased to 70 percent after that date. The appeal is granted for these ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and thus does not grant an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder with Chronic Dyssomnia, and Major Depressive Disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypothyroidism symptoms more closely approximated a 30 percent rating, but not higher. The PTSD rating remained at 50 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and PTSD have been granted service connection, and he is now eligible for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and the Board finds that no service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of this claim. The TDIU issue is granted effective May 19, 2010.