PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent since the effective date of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney, including VA mental health treatment records from the Nevada CBOC. The claim will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and development of medical records. The Board will determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, an addendum opinion from the August 2014 VA examiner, and another attempt to obtain Dr. Harrington's records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 30 percent disabling prior to February 13, 2013. The Board found that the disability picture more nearly approximated a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 28, 2013 and beginning January 28, 2013. The Veteran was also found not entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD produced occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and also denied his TDIU claim. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's PTSD more closely approximated the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, reflecting symptoms such as occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board found no evidence of a neck injury or psychiatric disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claims for residuals of neck injury and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since September 15, 2009. The Board found that the current rating of 70 percent for PTSD is appropriate.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or related to a service-connected condition. The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death and also denied the DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The claim for an extraschedular rating is pending.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is likely related to active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity throughout the period on appeal, warranting an initial rating not to exceed 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for the right ruptured Achilles tendon, status post repair was denied in a January 2010 Board decision.,An effective date of December 1, 2008, is granted for service connection for PTSD.,An effective date of February 10, 2009, is granted for the grant of service connection for bilateral foot plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, which prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.