PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased rating for PTSD and service connection for otitis media.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, needs further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Board has remanded to obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran had PTSD prior to September 28, 1999.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral foot disabilities due to ionizing radiation. The evidence now shows a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression were incurred in service, with the Board finding that his current diagnoses of PTSD and depression are related to military-related stressors during service.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD have caused total occupational and social impairment since March 14, 2008. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 100 percent rating are met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and hypertension due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity due to potential worsening since his last examination in June 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues with verifying stressors and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social deficiencies, warranting a 70 percent rating since November 10, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The claim for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD was also addressed but is not included in the summary as it pertains to a different issue.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from March 27, 2007. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating for the entire period on appeal. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% prior to August 3, 2017. The TDIU claim was not granted due to the presence of a non-compensable shrapnel wound to the right ankle.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 2008, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and occasional depression.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives regarding psychiatric disability.

The Board finds no compelling evidence or specific argument from the appellant indicating that the Veteran had a cardiovascular disability during service. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's cause of death was attributable to service, any incident of service, or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, precluded all forms of substantially gainful employment beginning December 1, 2012. Effective December 1, 2012, but not earlier, the criteria are met for the award of TDIU.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, being related to service or any other service-connected condition.