PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records. The TDIU claim is also part of the increased evaluation claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on this additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his verified in-service stressors and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings of service-connected PTSD has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent effective April 2, 2009. The rating reflects an increase in symptoms and overall impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to March 2, 2014 and 70 percent from that date. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a higher rating for PTSD since March 2, 2014.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are found to be related to his military service.

Prior to January 9, 2014, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,From January 9, 2014 to December 24, 2014, his PTSD did not result in significant impairment. ,Since December 25, 2014, the Veteran's PTSD caused severe impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work and social relationships.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to an effective date of October 24, 2004 for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's permanent and total service-connected disability, including his left lower extremity disabilities and heart condition, effectively precludes him from locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. He is therefore entitled to specially adapted housing benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, chronic cervical strain, and chronic lumbar strain render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was denied due to lack of evidence supporting a diagnosis and etiology. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a March 1998 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD. The hypertension issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The issue of TDIU will also be considered as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased evaluation claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective August 2010. His bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's TDIU claim was not addressed due to lack of appeal.