PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD prior to September 17, 2010 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and occasional sleep impairment. The Veteran was not found to meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a headache disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety.,The decision is based on the reopening of the claim due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's vertigo, to include a cerebellar gait, is due to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cardiovascular disease has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, was granted. His migraine headaches are rated at the maximum of 50 percent since September 25, 2014 for TBI residuals.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and readjudicating the claims based on all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and Vet Center treatment records, as well as a new VA psychiatric examination. The claims of increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are also inextricably intertwined and will be deferred until the increased rating issue is adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to August 16, 2013 were rated at 70 percent for PTSD with depression. These conditions rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his physical impairments.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected bronchial asthma, has been reopened. The Board finds that the new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim and thus denies it.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 31, 2008, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Veteran's unspecified bipolar disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder were found to have their onset during service, warranting service connection. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no corroborated in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, effective from June 6, 2012.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to February 12, 2014 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The rating for left leg pain remained at 10 percent. PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 11, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, nightmares, sleep impairment, hypervigilance, emotional and social detachment, and decreased concentration and memory prior to March 2011. The Board found that these symptoms warranted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from January 22, 2009 to December 16, 2014. The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information regarding the in-service stressor and the need for additional evidence. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after obtaining necessary records and confirming the occurrence of the claimed event.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder was not rated higher than 30 percent prior to August 5, 2014. The claim for an increased rating from that date is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent, and his PTSD is rated at the minimum of 30 percent. Both evaluations are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo were rated at 70 percent prior to October 31, 2012.,PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo were rated at 70 percent from October 31, 2012 to November 30, 2014, and 100 percent thereafter.,PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo caused total occupational and social impairment, rendering the Veteran unemployable.

The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under the schedular criteria. His headaches are rated at 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran has psychiatric disability, including PTSD, which is at least as likely as not attributable to an in-service event and grants service connection for PTSD, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder.