PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and a respiratory disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and back pain, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU prior to December 8, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and PTSD are not related to his active duty service. The claim for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression was granted, effective from May 28, 2004.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective March 1, 2012. His bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 20 percent, also effective March 1, 2012.

The Veteran's left hand disability is service connected as secondary to his PTSD. He was granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to August 6, 2014 and TDIU effective April 15, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 6, 2014. The effective date for this rating is May 6, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with MDD and adenocarcinoma of the lung, prevent him from securing or following gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, and the Board finds that his PTSD is also related to in-service stressors. The right ankle disability has been granted a rating of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining records from SSA and a psychiatric examination to determine if the Appellant has PTSD related to his service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and skin disability. The underlying service connection claims for bilateral foot disability and bilateral leg disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Englewood Community Hospital on December 11, 2013 is denied as the treatment did not constitute a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and TBI, as well as completion of a VA Form 21-8940 (Application for TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease is granted from July 1, 2016. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder) remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were denied as they did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Persian Gulf War exposure or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to December 27, 2011 was denied. The Board also denied the claim for TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, panic attacks, and sleep disturbances to include nightmares. The VA examiner found the Veteran has occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood; however, there is no total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to January 8, 2014. From January 8, 2014 forward, the Veteran experienced more severe symptoms resulting in deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression. The Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and depressive disorder due to his military service are supported by the evidence.