PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has ordered a new examination to clarify the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses and whether any identified diagnosis is related to service, including his diabetes mellitus with neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective October 6, 2010, based on liberalizing law that became effective July 13, 2010. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and TBI disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood since June 24, 2016. The Board finds that the criteria for a 70 percent rating are met.

The Veteran's appeal to have the effective date for his PTSD service connection changed has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has maintained employment throughout the appeal period and his PTSD does not prevent him from performing work that is not heavily reliant on interpersonal interactions.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal of a higher initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining additional medical clarification and any outstanding records from SSA.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. The Board finds that the criteria for a rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% disability rating throughout the appeal period. The Board also found that he is entitled to TDIU prior to April 24, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and alcohol abuse have been rated at 50 percent since March 1, 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 20, 2003 for service connection of PTSD was granted. The Veteran also received a 40 percent rating for partial paralysis of the left lower radicular group, but this appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PUD, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

Service connection for PTSD and diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was granted, effective February 24, 2009.,A TDIU was granted effective from February 24, 2009.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, a hearing loss disability of the left ear, and tinnitus.,These conditions are all related to his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but did not result in total occupational and social impairment. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to June 30, 2010 and denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been manifested by social and occupational impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.