PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the claim for a higher initial rating was denied. The TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the Viera Outpatient Clinic in Florida, or another appropriate location. The Veteran was unable to attend his previously scheduled hearing due to heart symptoms and requested rescheduling.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The symptoms associated with his condition include occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding new and material evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as it was found that a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder was incurred during military service. Service connection for PTSD is not established.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an increased rating for anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding eye conditions and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches and psychiatric disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as frequent panic attacks, chronic sleep impairment, hypervigilance, irritability, mild memory loss, difficulty concentrating, disturbances in motivation and mood.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders her unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to March 30, 2011 and increased to 70 percent effective from March 30, 2011. The Veteran also received a TDIU (Total Disability Independent of Rating) award effective from March 30, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to August 19, 2008. The rating has been increased to 50 percent from August 19, 2008 to October 6, 2015, and to 70 percent since then.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to December 17, 2012 is being remanded due to the need to obtain Vet Center treatment records from the period before that date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection and assignment of a 100 percent rating for PTSD is dismissed as the May 2004 rating decision, which granted service connection and assigned the initial 100 percent disability rating with an effective date of January 27, 1998, is final.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss before May 2, 2015 and a rating higher than 40 percent since May 2, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and the appeal is denied for peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU. The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for hypertension and hyperlipiaemia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is also asked to provide evidence that independently corroborates her claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective May 21, 2011. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment as of April 19, 2007.