PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to individual unemployability benefits is also included in this appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to September 1, 2010 and at 70 percent on and after February 12, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by intermittent periods of anger and fluctuations of mood, anxiety and depression, mild memory impairment, disturbances of motivation, sleep impairment, and the ability to maintain relationships only with family members prior to March 1, 2012. Since then, his PTSD has caused deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood without total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 29, 2012. The rating is based on the symptoms of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is at least as likely as not related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been manifested by reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that it would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is rated at 70 percent since October 9, 2009. The Board also granted a TDIU effective October 9, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 9, 2013. The Board found that the symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The diabetes mellitus rating has not met the criteria for a higher rating, but his pilonidal cyst with recurrent open wound warrants an initial 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder. He also received a TDIU rating and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but generally functioning satisfactorily with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravates his sleep apnea, which is a condition he claims is secondary to his PTSD.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's VA and private treatment records, as well as his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits file. The case will be remanded for a new addendum opinion from the same examiner who provided the April 2015 VA addendum opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD and TDIU claims are being remanded for further evaluation as the last VA examination was conducted over six years ago.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and rated at 70 percent from July 22, 2013, forward. He is also awarded a TDIU on the basis of his PTSD alone from July 22, 2013, forward.

The Board has found that the Veteran's 100 percent rating for PTSD must be reinstated due to procedural errors in reducing it from 100% to 70% effective April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been rated based on their current severity, with no higher ratings granted. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his hearing loss or an increased rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 24, 2009, for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been denied as the earliest possible effective date is March 24, 2009.