PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted a rating of 50 percent prior to September 30, 2010. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating and TDIU were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to November 8, 2015 and now at 50 percent effective from that date. The Board finds the current rating of 50 percent is appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to September 26, 2005. The symptoms did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is service-connected due to its presumptive relationship with his Gulf War service.,Prior to December 16, 2010, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for chronic headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on a claimed in-service stressor related to military sexual trauma. The Veteran's right leg disability and stomach condition are also found to be service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's appeal is not yet decided on the merits of her service connection claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying inservice stressors. The VA will also request Social Security Administration records and obtain VA outpatient treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider the issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, including on the basis of individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, except for the period of February 1, 2012 through September 9, 2012 when his PTSD was rated at 50% and combined with other disabilities resulted in an 80% rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for PTSD and for TDIU prior to June 14, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 5, 2013. This rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, result in a total combined rating of 60%. Although the Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU based on his combined disability rating, he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent disabling from July 19, 2010 to August 21, 2013. The symptoms were characterized by occasional nightmares and flashbacks, some irritability, and occasional depression.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to March 5, 2002. The evidence showed occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and obtaining relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues on appeal, including those related to hypertension, PTSD prior to April 30, 2015, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary service connection.