PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since June 15, 2010. The VA examiner found the Veteran to have occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as irritability or outbursts of anger, depression, a restricted range of affect, hypervigilance, avoidance, feelings of detachment and estrangement from others, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and will consider the Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, resulting in a disability rating of 70 percent. The symptoms include insomnia, social isolation, disturbances of motivation and mood, and impaired impulse control.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to January 25, 2013 and on and after that date. The current rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including panic attacks more than once a week; mild memory loss; depressed mood; anxiety; nightmares; and chronic sleep impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available for this condition. The Veteran maintains employment and social relationships, which preclude a higher rating.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is found to have its clinical onset during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.,PTSD due to a witnessed traumatic event in service is also granted. The Veteran's tinnitus is shown as likely as not to have had its clinical onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant notifying the Board of their intention to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a new examination to assess the Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder. The Veteran is also being asked to provide any private medical records related to his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified in-service stressors and insufficient medical evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including clarification of his statement regarding vacation days taken due to illness and obtaining information from his former employer. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective April 17, 2009. He also has a separate TDIU rating based on his PTSD, which became effective on the same date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Board found that there was no error in the December 1991 rating decision denying service connection, as the evidence at that time did not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The evidence does not establish a current and chronic PTSD related to service, nor any other psychiatric diagnosis linked to service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for PTSD prior to October 2, 2001 was granted due to the retroactive finding of clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, were granted. However, the claim for tuberculosis was denied as there is no evidence of active TB during or within three years after service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence indicating he filed a prior informal or formal claim before October 26, 1987. The earliest medical records showing PTSD symptoms are from after this date.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence of current or service-connected hepatitis C. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was also denied, as the evidence did not support a finding that his condition had worsened since his last examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for PTSD.