PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD, with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, more nearly approximates total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability and found that new evidence supports this reopening. The Board also determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his combat experiences in Vietnam, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.,PTSD was not diagnosed based on a verified stressor event in service, and the Veteran did not have PTSD due to fear of hostile military activity.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD with panic disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to in-service stressors including exposure to noise during service and a sexual assault.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows that his symptoms meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and he has a confirmed stressor related to wartime service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertensive vascular disease, and diabetic neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection with a rating of 30 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms warranted an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule VA examinations and obtain additional evidence for the issues of PTSD evaluation, bilateral upper extremities disability, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and will provide further development before making a decision on the claims.

The case is being remanded for further development due to the need to address pending appeals related to TBI, vertigo, and hearing loss. The PTSD rating issue will be reconsidered after these other issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, is being remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination opinions. The case will be returned to the Board for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 13, 2009. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as irritability, suicidal and homicidal ideation, insomnia, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, including social withdrawal, feelings of detachment, and emotional numbness; depressed mood, anxiety, and panic attacks; intrusive memories related to his military service, including flashbacks; paranoia and hypervigilance; some problems with concentration; and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is due to his service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease) prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to his in-service stressor and finds service connection for PTSD to be granted.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for consideration of a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, and the functional impairment from this disability alone is of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of PTSD cannot be prior to July 27, 2009 as this is when the Veteran requested to reopen his previously denied claim.