PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the Board to consider the merits of the case.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected PTSD. The cause of death, sepsis due to a urinary tract infection, was not linked to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 10, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since December 12, 2011. The symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, concentration problems, insomnia, avoidance, disturbances of motivation and mood, impaired judgment, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and unprovoked irritability with periods of violence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective July 9, 2004. The Board has also granted a TDIU rating based on the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted, but the RO needs to schedule an updated VA examination and obtain recent medical records before determining if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Depressive Disorder, and a Cognitive Disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is granted, with a rating of 70 percent and effective July 13, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute to his cause of death from cocaine toxicity. The appellant's claim is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective March 28, 2011 due to his service-connected heart disorder. The effective date is based on the date of unemployability determined by a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 50 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence to support a date prior to May 13, 2009.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and TDIU. The earliest date of a pending claim for these benefits was September 14, 2011.,VA determined that there was no legal basis to assign any earlier effective dates than September 14, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, initial compensable rating, and service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the hypertension and PTSD claims.

The preponderance of the evidence indicates that the Veteran's PTSD is productive of no more than occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by medication.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol dependence is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as well as attempts to obtain any outstanding medical records. The case will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression were found to have been incurred in service.,There is no evidence of h. pylori infection, but the Veteran has current atopic dermatitis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depression, anxiety, dysthymia, and a sleep disorder. The claim is now pending for further adjudication.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left facial spasm, porphyria cutanea tarda with diabetic skin complications of tinea pedis and tinea cruris, PTSD and depression, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The maximum schedular rating was assigned for the skin conditions.