PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease was not earlier than April 8, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and awarded a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD, the highest available under VA's rating criteria.

The Veteran's mood disorder with manic features secondary to CVA and PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective January 19, 2011. The claim for service connection was reopened based on new evidence received within one year of the March 16, 2009 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, as well as the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal includes a claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and affording the Veteran another opportunity to provide evidence.

The Veteran is found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD, sleep apnea, and ankle strain. The Board grants the TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to incomplete VA treatment records and unverified stressors. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD was withdrawn. The claim for TDIU was dismissed as a matter of law due to the Veteran being incarcerated for a felony conviction.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling. The effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is set at August 29, 2008 for left ear and December 24, 2012 for right ear.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral athlete's foot, prostate cancer, PTSD, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability are all service-connected. The diabetes mellitus claim is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since July 21, 2010. The rating is based on the current level of impairment due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment.

The Board found that an effective date prior to May 24, 2011, for the award of service connection for PTSD is not warranted. The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to his psychiatric symptomatology, without more severe manifestations that more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is service-connected, and his sleep apnea is secondary to this condition. The Board finds no evidence of asbestos exposure or other conditions related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining more recent VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is a result of his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the effective date of his service connection, and he is found to be unemployable due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not render him unemployable prior to April 7, 2016. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of total disability due to his PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral pes planus, finding that new evidence did not warrant reopening of the service connection claim for PTSD. The rating for bilateral pes planus remained at 10 percent.