PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted on an extraschedular basis.,For the period from March 7, 2012, to November 30, 2017, his acquired psychiatric disability was evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board found that this level of impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating (such as 70% or 100%) and thus denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's arthritis conditions were remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether they are service-connected.,Service connection was granted for headaches secondary to tinnitus.,Other claims, including those related to sleep disability, hypertension, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, special monthly compensation, and TDIU, were also remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. However, the claims for both PTSD and a sleep disorder were denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hip disability, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, diabetes mellitus type II, and psychiatric disabilities. The effective date for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is also being remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective September 14, 2011. For the period prior to January 23, 2015, her lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent and increased to 20 percent effective January 23, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, including impaired impulse control, suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic and anxiety, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and trouble establishing and maintaining effective relationships.,During the period from September 9, 2009 to February 20, 2014, the Veteran was unable to obtain or maintain employment due to PTSD-related symptoms such as anger outbursts, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service stressors. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder, including whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is found to be related to his service. The Board granted the claim as the doubt in favor of the Veteran was resolved.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD service connection is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has hypertension, but remands to obtain a medical opinion on whether it is related to herbicide exposure or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's psychiatric claim, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and major depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death was cardiac arrest, which is not service-connected. The Board denied DIC based on PTSD as the principal cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD with panic attacks and agoraphobia was denied. The initial evaluation of his service-connected psychiatric disability, which includes bilateral hearing loss, was granted at 70 percent from March 10, 2010 to January 30, 2014. TDIU was also granted during this period.

The Veteran's PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder have been granted a 70 percent disability rating prior to April 23, 2018, and a 100 percent disability rating effective from that date.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current criteria.,DM2 was initially granted service connection with a 10% rating effective September 26, 2012. The Veteran's DM2 has required medication to control it and requires an oral hypoglycemic agent in addition to a restricted diet since February 7, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to October 27, 2011, for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type, organic delusional disorder with PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted TDIU effective January 12, 2009. The claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent prior to September 2015 and increased to 70 percent in September 2015. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to September 2015, but upheld the 70 percent rating assigned in September 2015.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU, effective November 13, 2018.