PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 27, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, but denied for right ankle disability, prostate disability (due to herbicide exposure), and pulmonary respiratory disability. The prostate disability claim is based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is a result of service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating prior to October 16, 2012. The bilateral knee disorder and left foot disorder were not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including nightmares, fragmented sleep, panic attacks, flashbacks, forgetfulness, nervousness, depression, poor concentration, irritability, feelings of isolation, and low energy, are not indicative of more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent and later increased to 70 percent. The issues are whether the initial rating of 50 percent should be maintained or if a higher rating is warranted, as well as whether he qualifies for TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has ordered a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, specifically addressing whether it aggravated his non-service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, manic depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations scheduled in conjunction with his appeal. The Board finds that good cause has been shown for his failure to report.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and back disability have been denied. The Board has ordered a remand due to the Veteran not receiving proper notice of his scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Board found that there was no CUE in the effective date assigned for service connection of PTSD with panic disorder, and thus denied the Veteran's motion.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder has been productive of occupational and social impairment, but not total social and occupational impairment. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective March 5, 2009. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU. The earlier effective date for the increased rating of 20% for bilateral hearing loss is set at July 31, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder prior to November 20, 2014, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that an extraschedular rating is not warranted. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a low back disability with associated sciatica, but new evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder that may be present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied his claim of service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded due to in-service stressor verification.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent prior to January 27, 2010. The rating was increased to 30 percent effective April 8, 2009.