PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has right foot fungus or psychiatric disorder that was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his PTSD with dysthymic disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of any additional treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from January 23, 2007 to September 30, 2008.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and left ear tinnitus have been granted initial evaluations of 10 percent each. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from September 19, 2011. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective December 1, 2006. The Veteran has also been granted service connection for tinnitus with a 10% disability rating effective December 1, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and PTSD. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as there is evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD related to his confirmed in-service stressor.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied service connection for this condition. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of left ankle injury, and residuals of left fifth finger injury were also denied as there was no competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in May 2006. The RO received a new application to reopen the claim on May 6, 2009, and granted service connection based on medical evidence of diagnosis at that time.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in work, family relations, judgment, and mood since May 1, 2005 but prior to February 3, 2010.,Since February 3, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD continues to result in a significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in work, family relations, judgment, and mood.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at various levels of severity from May 6, 2004 to November 27, 2006 and since November 28, 2006. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent or a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to March 7, 2011. The Board has granted an increased rating of 70 percent for the service-connected PTSD prior to March 7, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU have been granted, effective as of January 21, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 11, 1995, for the assignment of a compensable rating for his service-connected PTSD and dismissed the motion of CUE based on Hyson v. Brown.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam, and granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding his employability and considering all of his service-connected disabilities.