PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability and a psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show complaints of right knee pain during training, but no current diagnosis or treatment was found at separation. For the psychiatric claim, VA must provide an examination to determine if the claimed in-service stressor occurred and whether it resulted in PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and a skin disorder are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and right ankle disability are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is intertwined with the remanded claims for increased ratings, so it is also remanded.,reasoning

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been reopened and is granted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorders are being remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder due to the lack of evidence of a current disability other than gout affecting both ankles. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), gout, bilateral plantar fasciitis with DJD and heel spurs, and bilateral shin splints are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than May 14, 2014 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran that was not previously considered.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a corneal abrasion is denied as there are no current residuals related to the in-service injury.,The Veteran's initial rating for dry eye syndrome remains at 20 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6025.,The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee disabilities remain at 10 percent each. The AOJ has rated them under Diagnostic Code 5010 (traumatic arthritis), but they are evaluated based on limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes.,Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is granted since June 1, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's genitourinary disability following a March 2, 2011 TURP at a private facility is denied under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was denied as there is no clear and unmistakable error in the June 2010 rating decision that initially denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for PTSD due to anal fissures caused by a September 2012 VA digital rectal examination. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted with an effective date of January 26, 2013. The appeal for a higher rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity associated with diabetes mellitus have worsened since their last evaluations. Therefore, the claims are being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by difficulty sleeping, panic attacks, anxiety, depressed mood, suspiciousness, disturbances of motivation and mood, and occupational and social impairment during periods of significant stress. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms are mild.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his active military service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) prior to January 20, 2012. However, due to VA policy requiring all veterans who are unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities to be rated totally disabled, the case must be submitted to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The Board has decided that referral is warranted for this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability and an acquired psychiatric disability remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for PTSD and TDIU was granted, with the earliest claims being received on October 26, 2012. The increase in severity of PTSD symptoms was factually ascertainable as early as October 26, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also meets the requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, polysubstance and nicotine dependence. The Veteran's right ankle disability was also denied.,Both the bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus issues were remanded due to insufficient evidence.