PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran's combined disability rating did not meet the minimum schedular criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to incomplete development. Additional evidence is needed including VA treatment records, workers compensation records, and private psychiatric examination reports.

The Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by symptomatology more nearly approximating total occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. Prior to October 16, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by symptomatology more nearly approximating total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the periods of PTSD ratings from March 24, 2003 through January 24, 2005 and from August 11, 2009 through December 13, 2011. The effective date for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1114(s) was not granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating adequately reflects his disability level. The evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, specifically to adjudicate the claim of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability during two separate periods. The first period includes consideration of the Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder, while the second period does not include this condition and only considers other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected PTSD. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD results in reduced reliability and productivity, with symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sleep impairment, nightmares, suicidal ideation, and difficulty maintaining relationships. The current level of disability warrants a rating of 50 percent.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and migraine headaches. The claim for migraine headaches was denied due to a lack of medical nexus between the claimed in-service headache episodes and current migraines.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, was not related to service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety has caused significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and his claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric condition. For diabetes mellitus, the evidence showed that it required daily insulin and restricted diet but no regulation of activities, which meant he could still be rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a videoconference hearing at the Atlanta RO. The claims of increased ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder and type II diabetes mellitus remain pending.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is rated at 100% since May 3, 2010. The rating was increased to 100% effective April 22, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective January 4, 2011. His gunshot wound residuals of the right ankle are currently rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD with secondary depressive disorder and panic attacks.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 11, 2005 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and a disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD. The Veteran is also entitled to a total rating for compensation purposes based upon individual unemployability.