PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's nerve damage to the left leg has been rated as 10 percent disabling, which is appropriate given the symptoms described. The acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, PTSD) has been granted service connection and is considered a new issue due to reopened claims. Hypertension and sleep apnea have not been found to be related to service. Left shoulder and back disabilities are also not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent since May 17, 2012. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and any other psychiatric disabilities. The TDIU claim will be deferred until after the development is completed.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he and his representative have withdrawn their appeals for higher ratings for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing this issue as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity regarding the Veteran's psychiatric condition and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is rated at 70 percent, and he has been found unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination and requests that he provide specific details of his reported stressors. The case is also being remanded to obtain medical records from various facilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with panic disorder alone does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD and OSA have been granted service connection, while his diabetes mellitus has been assigned a 20 percent initial rating.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to September 11, 2014 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for TBI residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his Naval Reserves service records and verification of claimed stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression was rated at 50 percent prior to March 3, 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to November 17, 2014. The Board also denied entitlement to TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for bilateral hand tremors.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition, specifically PTSD with major depressive disorder and recurrent panic disorder, has been rated at 50 percent since September 1, 2006. This rating is based on symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep impairment, nightmares, and frequent panic attacks.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional consideration and readjudication due to the disparity in his psychological presentation between November 2008 and September 2, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective December 15, 2009. The VA examiner found that the Veteran had occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claim for service connection. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is considered to be unrelated to his military service.