PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from April 1, 2011 to July 9, 2012 and granted a higher rating of 50 percent for this period. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to July 9, 2012 is still pending.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety has been rated at 70 percent since February 26, 2016. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms and occupational and social impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and her symptoms are more likely related to her pre-existing personality disorder rather than service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to be the primary cause of his chronic atypical headaches, and thus service connection for such is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist disability was denied as there is no probative nexus evidence regarding an etiological relationship between his left wrist carpal instability and active service. The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS, currently rated at 50 percent disabling from September 22, 2005, under DC 9411 of the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 14, 2009. He is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD alone, effective from March 14, 2009. The Veteran is also awarded SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent rating from March 13, 2008 onwards. The claim for TDIU prior to March 13, 2008 was granted. SMC at the housebound rate is not currently applicable.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge from service is not a bar to VA benefits, and therefore her claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM-IV or DSM-5, and concluded that there is not sufficient medical evidence to link any diagnosed psychiatric disorder to service. The Veteran's claimed stressors were also not verified.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders (other than PTSD) were related to his childhood abuse and drug use, which did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression is rated at the highest possible level (100%) due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since December 18, 2002. The effective date for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction is being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating since March 18, 2014. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by deficiencies in most areas of social functioning and occupational functioning, including sleep impairment, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, feelings of detachment from others, isolation, avoidance, moderate to major effect on his ability to function appropriately and effectively, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and depressed mood. The Veteran was assigned a GAF score of 62.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to October 25, 2011 and denied for a higher rating. From December 7, 2011 to April 12, 2016, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of increased disability ratings for foot hallux valgus, entitlement to a temporary total disability rating, and TDIU for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right sciatic nerve paralysis and other conditions, contributed substantially to his death from an intracranial hemorrhage. As a result, the appeal is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and her request for a compensable rating was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have PTSD or GERD related to her service-connected mandibular fracture, but her masticatory dysfunction due to the mandibular fracture residuals more closely approximated severe malunion of the mandible.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and related stressor has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with the occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks as a result of depressed mood, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent are not met.