PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting the severity of his symptoms such as depressed mood and anxiety. The rating does not account for more severe impairment in social or occupational functioning.

The Board finds that service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is warranted, as his PTSD contributed substantially to his death.

The Board found that the appellant was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2010, and thus denied an effective date earlier than this date for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from April 25, 2016 to October 6, 2017 and increased to 70 percent effective October 6, 2017.,Prior to October 6, 2017, the Veteran met criteria for a 70% rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar posterior calcaneal spurs was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been found to preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since February 17, 2009. The TDIU is granted.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, with dysthymia and bilateral pes planus effective March 13, 2009. The Veteran's claims for right knee and left knee disabilities were also granted but assigned an earlier effective date of January 22, 2010.

The Board has determined that further development of the record is necessary to comply with VA's duty to assist the Veteran in the development of facts pertinent to his appeal for service connection for a psychological disorder, including PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent rating. The other issues were either not granted or did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was initially denied in March 2009 due to lack of verified stressor. However, the evidence now shows that the Veteran has a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD dating back to May 5, 2009. Therefore, an effective date of May 5, 2009 is granted for the award of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to service, including his alleged MST during confinement in San Diego. The claim is also reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disability, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his PTSD and determine whether his hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be deferred pending the adjudication of the other two issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the Veteran's reported stressors in service, as well as his current psychiatric disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further examination and review of his records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and a heart disability to include ischemic heart disease were denied. Service connection was granted for hypertension but not for the other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleeping problems, was denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current mental health disorder related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine and assigned a temporary 100% evaluation based on hospitalization and convalescence for brain tumor removal surgery.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and did not reopen the claim of high blood pressure as new and material evidence was not presented.