PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the March 1994 rating decision is final and that the November 22, 1994 submission constituted new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD remains November 22, 1994.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance, nor does he qualify for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant. His basic eligibility requirements are not met due to his nonservice-connected Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder arose prior to December 30, 2005, and granted service connection for these conditions effective from that date.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right shoulder shrapnel injury during service and the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since January 29, 2007. This rating is based on the criteria for a disability due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has ordered additional development to be completed in order to determine the Veteran's eligibility for service connection for PTSD. The case is now remanded for further proceedings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not indicate a causal relationship between his current psychiatric disability and his service or any in-service event.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and for an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran was not granted any higher ratings, including during periods of total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and a cognitive disorder, has been found to be productive of total occupational and social impairment. As such, she is granted a 100% schedular rating for her service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, headaches, and bilateral hand numbness. The right hip or lower extremity problem is not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD for accrued benefits purposes, but denied the claim for diabetes mellitus for accrued benefits purposes. The appellant's claims are remanded to consider whether the effective date and level of disability associated with the Veteran's service-connected PTSD would warrant a grant of benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and consideration of whether he was unemployable prior to January 14, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to March 2, 2012. Effective from March 2, 2012, the rating for PTSD has been increased to 50 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and granted a TDIU. The Veteran's other claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased rating of his left knee disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is August 27, 2007, as it was received within one year of discharge from active duty. For the increased rating claim, the Board found that a compensable rating was not factually ascertainable prior to the VA examination on October 14, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to May 16, 2012 did not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral ankle strain, a psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), lumbar strain, hypertension, and migraines. The issues have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 18, 2009 for a 100% evaluation for PTSD. The decision found that it was not factually ascertainable that there was an increase in disability within the year prior to the February 18, 2009 claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and did not address his service connection claim for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.