PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychological condition, including PTSD, is granted as service connected due to the reasonable doubt in his favor being resolved.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to January 1, 2018. Effective January 1, 2018, the rating for PTSD was increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the submission of new VA examination reports and ongoing treatment records. The AOJ will review these documents and provide a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, is also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded due to the possibility of increased severity since his last examination in January 2015. He will be scheduled for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, hypothyroidism, and PTSD has been granted. The decision also remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have manifested to a degree that most closely approximates total occupational and social impairment, warranting an increased rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's high cholesterol, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), astigmatism and refractive error of the eyes, frequent urination, crescentic IgA nephropathy with congenital left atrophic kidney condition, right knee disability, left ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and acid reflux are all denied as service connection. The Veteran's character of discharge for his period of active service from March 2007 to April 2012 is a bar to VA benefits.,The Veteran was not diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder or multiple personality disorder during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other conditions. The VA must obtain a new opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding whether his PTSD caused or aggravated his OSA.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression symptoms prior to May 21, 2019 more nearly approximated the criteria for total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and psychosis NOS. The Veteran's statements regarding his in-service stressor have been deemed credible and supporting evidence of the in-service stressor. His acquired psychiatric disorder is related to a traumatic event during basic training involving a gas chamber.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right ankle condition, and injury to the right eye are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of total occupational and social impairment for the entire period on appeal, resulting in a 100% disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2017 for the start of payment of compensation based on the award of service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The effective date was January 3, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 22, 2016. From August 22, 2016 forward, the Veteran has a combined 100 percent schedular rating and is already receiving maximum benefits for his disabilities.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease. The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder, NOS, is also granted.

The Veteran's increased PTSD rating and service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that the current evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and PTSD, as well as his claim for TDIU. The remand requires obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to May 20, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU from August 10, 2005 until May 20, 2011 due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities. However, the issue of an increased rating for PTSD in excess of 30 percent prior to May 20, 2011 is remanded as the VA examinations did not consider the appropriate time period.