PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms, specifically PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, were found to be productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to May 20, 2016. The rating assigned was 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, are related to his active duty service. However, a VA examination is needed to support this claim.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left and right knee conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, and May 24, 2007, is assigned as the new effective date. This is the earliest possible date for the grant of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder as the evidence did not show an in-service stressor event or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and SMC for loss of use of a creative organ due to ED were granted with effective dates of August 23, 2016, and August 28, 2017 respectively.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostatitis, urinary tract infection, urine retention, bladder incontinence, nocturia, obesity, cataracts, and fatigue was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and TBI residuals, is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 12, 2018 for the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD. The decision is based on the Veteran filing a complete claim within one year of indicating his desire to file such a claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because his service-connected PTSD alone does not render him unemployable, as he has not provided credible evidence that his PTSD symptoms prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they cause significant occupational and social impairment but not total impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The left and right ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination, and the neck disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeal for right and left lower extremity burns is dismissed. The appeals for increased evaluations of hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of total knee replacement are remanded. The appeal for TDIU prior to January 6, 2017 is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD and a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence, including VA examinations. The issues will be reconsidered after all relevant information has been obtained.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic right wrist sprain and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and PTSD, as the RO did not substantially comply with its May 2018 remand directives. The Veteran is required to provide information and authorization for additional evidence from private providers, and a VA audiology examination must be scheduled.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the claims of service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, sleep disability (to include sleep apnea), and headache disability (to include as due to a TBI). The Veteran's VA treatment records from Tuscaloosa, Alabama in January 2011 are requested. Additionally, the Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and low back pain with degenerative disc disease, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board granted SMC based on this requirement.