PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling effective December 11, 2009. The Board has granted an increased rating to 70 percent during the course of this appeal and as such, it impacts the TDIU effective date.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a current psychiatric disability, likely PTSD or another acquired psychiatric condition. Service connection is also established for sleep apnea. The claim for cluster headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired anxiety disorder, to include PTSD, is manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as: impaired short-term memory; anger; anxiety; depressed mood; and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizures and psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD, are not related to military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board finds that there is no medical nexus between his current hearing loss disability and service.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7522 as he does not have physical deformity of the penis with loss of erectile power. The VA examiner found no penile deformity in the Veteran's case.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms which most closely equate to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9411. The Board finds that there is no medical evidence of record supporting an increase in disability rating beyond this level.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not, either individually or collectively, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher initial rating for PTSD and a TDIU have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating for PTSD, currently rated as 30 percent disabling prior to April 3, 2014, and as 70 percent disabling thereafter.

The Veteran's application for waiver of premiums on Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) was denied because he did not file his insurance application prior to his 65th birthday, making him ineligible under the applicable laws and regulations.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 50 percent is warranted.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent each for the right and left lower extremities. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 3, 2016 and at 70 percent thereafter. The appeal is granted with these ratings.

The Veteran's authorized representative withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 100 percent throughout the entire period of the claim, resulting in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating since the effective date of service connection on April 20, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, back disorder, and neck disorder in March 1988. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection was not established for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after service separation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being evaluated to determine if they make him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder are service-connected, as they are linked to his in-service stressors related to fear of hostile military activity during active service in Iraq. The Veteran's vestibular disorder is also service-connected due to a TBI sustained during service. Sinusitis and rhinitis with coughing have been found to be related to exposure to burn pits while serving in Balad, Iraq.

PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from February 22, 2012 to April 15, 2014. The Veteran experienced symptoms such as insomnia, restricted range of affect, frequent moderate depression and anxiety, marital stress due to mood disturbance, intrusive thoughts and memories, irritability or outbursts of anger triggered by work stress or physical illness, and panic attacks several times a month that interfered with job performance.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current level of PTSD impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of July 28, 2010. The VA is also required to provide a new examination and opinion regarding the severity and onset of his left upper extremity mononeuropathy and left elbow disability due to their complexity and impact on employment.