PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, verify claimed stressors, and provide a new VA examination.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for TDIU as he has one service-connected disability rated at 60 percent or more and his combined service-connected disabilities are rated at 90 percent. The evidence demonstrates that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case to develop additional evidence and provide a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim is based on new and material evidence submitted after the previous denial.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and the need for a GAF score.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely the result of his active service, and the Board has granted this claim. The issue of PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse in remission is productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD alone, combined with other service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more, meets the criteria for a TDIU rating from July 30, 2010. The Veteran is also eligible for SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) due to his PTSD alone.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied his claims for higher ratings. The effective dates for benefits were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, as well as his claims for various other disabilities. The Board found that there was no legal merit to these claims.

The Board found that the appellant's extended AWOL status was justified due to service-connected PTSD and TBI, thus finding his discharge under other than honorable conditions does not bar him from VA benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling from September 1, 2012 onwards. The effective date for this rating remains to be determined.

The Veteran's PTSD and recurrent major depression have been rated based on their impact on his occupational and social functioning. The initial rating of 50% for PTSD prior to June 3, 2015, reflects the severity of symptoms consistent with reduced reliability and productivity due to mild to moderate impairment in most areas.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as her PTSD and hysterectomy with associated scar have not rendered her unable to work.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues related to service connection due to the lack of evidence supporting these claims. The Board found that there is no current disability, and no link between any claimed conditions and active military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board found a 70 percent disability rating for the period prior to May 14, 2013 and thereafter.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 10, 2005. The current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current VA regulations. The evidence shows that his symptoms are manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.