PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD disability is manifested by total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% rating. The effective date for this rating remains March 22, 2006.

The Veteran's cause of death is service-connected due to his PTSD, which caused pancreatitis and ultimately led to pancreatic cancer. The appellant's claim for an increased rating for accrued benefits purposes was granted as the Veteran had a pending claim at the time of his death.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, and found that there was not credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors. The Veteran's claims for permanent incapacity for self-support for her son were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as there are no legal grounds to assign a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6260. For ED, the RO has already granted service connection and assigned the minimum (zero percent) evaluation allowed by law.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 14, 2005. The rating is based on the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective July 31, 2013. The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent prior to that date has been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including depression, anxiety, auditory hallucinations, sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, and isolative behavior, have resulted in total occupational impairment since July 28, 2009. The effective date for the grant of a total rating and DEA benefits is denied as there was no prior service connection claim filed before June 28, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including issuing a statement of the case on depression and PTSD, and scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD. Further examination by a VA board-certified psychiatrist is required.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety disorder due to MST. The issues of service connection for migraine headaches and residuals of a bilateral ankle injury are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since April 29, 2008 and was increased to 70 percent effective February 23, 2015. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating of 70 percent for the entire period from April 29, 2008.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as anxiety reaction, major depressive disorder (MDD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is currently rated at 70 percent. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and his PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in June 2015 was inadequate and remands the case for a supplemental medical opinion to address whether any psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, effective prior to May 13, 2014. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms such as isolation, depression, sleep disturbance with nightmares, social anxiety, panic attacks, avoidance, irritability, angry outbursts, occasional suicidal and homicidal thoughts, and some memory issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, will be remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep impairment as a manifestation of PTSD, memory loss as a manifestation of PTSD, and TDIU have been granted. The decision also includes the grant of service connection for sleep impairment and memory loss as manifestations of PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and increased rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. An opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities affect his employability will also be obtained.