PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected as it is linked to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse was rated at 30 percent prior to September 28, 2010. The evidence does not support a higher rating during this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notification of a scheduled hearing. The Veteran's current address needs to be determined and he should be notified of his upcoming hearing.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct an examination, as the current VA examination report did not consider all relevant records and may have used incorrect diagnostic criteria.

The Veteran's psychosis, not otherwise specified (originally described as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), has resulted in total occupational and social impairment with symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions, suicidal thoughts, chronic anxiety and depression, memory loss, and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living. The effective date for the grant of a 100 percent rating is November 30, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 26, 2015, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent from February 6, 2009 to March 28, 2010 and at 70 percent since March 29, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU rating for PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have approximated at least occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The RO granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD effective June 14, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was received on January 20, 2010. The Board determined that the effective date should be set at this time due to the denial of previous claims and lack of appeal within one year.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between her current symptoms and in-service stressors or other incidents.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to address the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and any other diagnosed mental disorders. The claim for TDIU has also been raised by the record but must be adjudicated prior to deciding the initial rating issue.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 50 percent disability rating since May 9, 2011. The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's PTSD has manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of April 13, 1968, the day after his separation from active duty.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with an examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to service. The appeal is currently pending due to this remand.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including sleep impairment and anxiety, have not resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's schizophrenia with major depressive disorder is found to have been incurred in service.,PTSD was not diagnosed during the appeal period and thus, service connection for PTSD cannot be established.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and prostate cancer, along with erectile dysfunction, make him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 24, 2012. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's alcohol dependence is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder, and denied a higher initial rating for PTSD.