PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to November 29, 2012 and increased to 50 percent as of that date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting moderate impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and finds no evidence to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative. As a result, the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease was granted, with a 100% disability rating effective August 5, 2008.,The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for ischemic heart disease was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 2010, effective from June 1, 2010. The rating was granted based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his daily life.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to October 7, 2002, for service connection of PTSD. The Veteran's claim was initially denied in December 1994 and reopened on October 7, 2002 due to the association of additional service records that supported his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide an updated examination and obtain additional treatment records, as the current record indicates a possible worsening of his PTSD symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service and whether the Veteran's reported combat stressors caused his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU for the period prior to October 8, 2013 due to his service-connected PTSD. The effective date of the 100% disability rating for PTSD was granted on October 8, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The claim for a skin disability claimed as chloracne was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that there is sufficient corroborative evidence to support the claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, plantar warts, lumbar and cervical spine DJD, hip and shoulder DJD, preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent since March 14, 2014. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of an in-service stressor and a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is linked to this stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, but he was generally functioning satisfactorily. The VA assigned a 30 percent rating prior to May 14, 2013, and increased it to 70 percent thereafter.