PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a finding that he has PTSD and its relation to his in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and a new examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is of service onset or otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of functional impairment comparable to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 8, 2010. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a higher disability rating for his PTSD and also meets criteria for a TDIU due solely to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to shell fragment wound residuals, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, heart disability, damaged teeth, bilateral shoulder disability, and low back disability are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, and his initial rating for psychotic disorder, NOS, remains at 50 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to June 3, 2014 and increased to 50 percent on or after that date. The current evaluation of 50 percent is considered appropriate given the symptoms described.

The Board has determined that the Veteran became unemployable due to service-connected PTSD on October 7, 2005. The effective date for a TDIU rating is set at October 7, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient search of records from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to arrange for a Board hearing. The issues include reopening his claim for cervical degenerative disc disease, service connection for PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, and insomnia, as well as an increased disability rating for lumbar strain and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was rated at 10 percent effective September 22, 2015. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed to his death from vascular dementia, which was caused by hypertension. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 12, 2015. The VA examiner found the Veteran to have occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as flattened affect, mild memory impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, and he was granted a rating of 10 percent for his left shoulder strain. The case has been remanded to determine if the Veteran should be granted TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted service connection and rated at 30 percent prior to July 19, 2010. The RO increased the rating to 50 percent effective July 19, 2010.