PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including diagnoses of panic disorder with agoraphobia and PTSD. The decision finds that there is a medical link between the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted from May 18, 2011.,The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. His claim of entitlement to an increased rating for anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms and TDIU rating are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and ischemic heart disease were denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service or presumptively presumed under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his PTSD with anxiety and his employability.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder, along with other diagnosed conditions, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to May 21, 2009. The symptoms included nightmares, depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, memory loss, panic attacks, suicidal and homicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, difficulty concentrating, diminished interest in activities, intrusive thoughts, feelings of detachment, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and difficulty interacting with others.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from June 8, 2005 to April 24, 2011 more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and right ear hearing loss, as well as his attempts to reopen the claim for service connection for sinusitis were denied. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during active duty service that resulted in an additional disability or aggravation of his congenital Chiari malformation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective October 13, 2011. The TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that an increased rating to a higher disability rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder with major depression and PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to July 1, 2005. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the period from August 24, 2004 to July 1, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Vet Center mental health treatment records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU based on service-connected PTSD is still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 10, 2014. The Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted for his PTSD due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation and near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is less than the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and for a supplemental comment from the May 2015 VA examiner regarding the severity of his service-connected dyshidrotic eczema.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board dismissed this issue as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, particularly regarding his claimed psychiatric disorders, left foot disorder, cervical spine disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU due to his combined rating of 80 percent.