PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder prior to June 20, 2018 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,From June 20, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was initially rated as noncompensable prior to January 29, 2014. From that date until May 26, 2016, he received a rating of 40 percent and from then on a rating of 60 percent.,PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to July 3, 2018, and increased to 50 percent thereafter.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression) is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and PTSD, but has granted a new and material evidence claim for his psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent since May 13, 2014. The Veteran’s lumbar spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability remains on appeal as it was raised in conjunction with the increased rating claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating and TDIU based on PTSD was granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 70% for PTSD, effective July 19, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder but remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD and depression due to lack of a clear diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The case of left ear hearing loss and TDIU are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression due to in-service TBI, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claim of an initial compensable rating for TBI is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is caused and aggravated by his service-connected disabilities including fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected allergic rhinitis with sinusitis. The initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction and the effective date prior to March 23, 2015, for PTSD are denied. The Veteran has been granted service connection for erectile dysfunction effective from March 23, 2015, based on the date of claim.

The appeal of the Veteran’s claim for service connection for sinusitis is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of his employment status.

The Veteran's death was attributed to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed due to his service-connected PTSD. The appeal for a back disability, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's TBI is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available for this condition. The Board found that the Veteran's cognitive impairment, subjective symptoms, and emotional/behavioral dysfunction do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected PTSD and sleep apnea is being remanded. The issue of whether the September 14, 2010 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD was clearly and unmistakably erroneous is also inextricably intertwined with this matter.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from August 21, 2013 to October 9, 2018.,An effective date of December 27, 2012 for the grant of a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD is granted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to December 18, 2016 is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran was not granted service connection for her claimed psychiatric condition, as there is no evidence that she has a distinct diagnosis of major depressive disorder separate from her already service-connected PTSD. For her hemorrhoids, the Board found that the symptoms were mild or moderate and did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of January 12, 2007. The decision is based on newly received service treatment and personnel records that were not available at the time of the previous denial in September 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with recurrent major depression was granted effective from August 27, 2009. The effective date is based on the receipt of a reopened claim in September 2009.