PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the knees, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling from July 21, 2011. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period prior to June 21, 2012.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD disability, along with his major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,His symptoms included depressed mood, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, chronic sleep impairment, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, socially-isolative behaviors, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been manifested by no worse than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current back disorder or residuals of TBI related to his service. The claim for somatic symptom disorder is granted, but the claims for back disorder and TBI are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran was found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to November 15, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran has been unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to December 19, 2014. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination for PTSD and consideration of the issue of CUE regarding the March 1984 rating decision. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for residuals of left shoulder trauma and surgery with limited motion, arthralgia, and complex regional pain syndrome (minor), and entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive features is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent. The Veteran also meets criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 70 percent disabling since November 24, 2014. The Board finds that the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation have been met due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and there is no evidence to support service connection for any other diagnosed mental health condition. The claim for bruxism was denied as well.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability did not have its onset in service and is not related to his service-connected conditions or Gulf War exposure. The hypertension claim was also denied as there was no evidence of a compensable degree within one year of separation, and it was not secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran's left knee replacement and right knee DJD are each rated at their respective disability levels.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the filing of new claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, which may affect his TDIU rating. The AOJ will develop these issues before considering the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied. The issue of service connection for pineal cysts is remanded due to conflicting medical records.