PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and TDIU. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was granted, but this does not affect the current issues as it is a complete grant of that claim.

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

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted service connection based on a diagnosis within one year of discharge from active duty. The back disability and PTSD were both granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 2, 2007. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying his claimed stressors. He is also seeking an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disorder, back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, allergies, heart disorder, acne, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, determine his employment status since September 5, 2008, and schedule him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be readjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 22, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, difficulty falling and staying asleep, night sweats, hypervigilance, heightened startle response, extreme social anxiety, depression, loneliness, lack of interest in usual activities, irritability, explosive anger, suicidal and homicidal ideations. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in a 50 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and residuals of circumcision, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 50 percent since the grant of service connection in January 2012, reflecting significant impairment but not total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD with chronic depressive disorder has been productive of occupational and social impairment, warranting a 50% rating from the date of his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety disorder, was granted. The condition is presumed to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was granted, with a rating of 30% assigned for PTSD. The issues of tinnitus, sleep disorder, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral hand disability were not addressed due to the withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran. TDIU claim is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's suicide was caused by PTSD, which is service-connected due to in-service combat stressors. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's essential tremors of the upper and lower extremities have not been manifested by anything more than mild tics, while his PTSD has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The appeals for increased ratings were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The Board found his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of his claim. The TDIU issue was also granted.