PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus is not entitled to presumptive service connection for any conditions. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any of his claimed disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 10, 2015. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 27, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, as well as secondary service connection to the right knee disability. The claim was denied due to lack of current diagnosis and no established link between service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depression are related to an in-service personal assault, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder did not result in total occupational and social impairment at any time during the period on appeal, thus his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death due to heroin use, which was a result of self-medication for his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, tinnitus at 10 percent, and bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Board granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and a prior effective date for diabetes mellitus type II were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD or earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a denial of the requested increased evaluations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's waiver of recovery of an overpayment of $4,657.84 due to VA error in awarding benefits prior to his separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and to verify his service connection claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 11, 2017. His symptoms were considered mild and did not significantly impair his occupational or social functioning.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for TDIU, but his employment history and current job do not show he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD as there is no verified in-service stressor and his lay statements regarding combat experiences have not been corroborated with independent evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total social impairment between October 4, 2004 and August 6, 2010. As of August 6, 2010, the Veteran experienced total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD.