PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral lower extremity neurological disability, and there is no evidence to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further investigation is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period. The Board now finds that his symptoms more closely approximate a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 50 percent disabling since June 10, 2016. The Board finds that the symptoms described by the Veteran during this period are consistent with a 50 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional treatment records from the Denver Vet Center.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD symptoms and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. However, the evidence does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD as required by the DSM-5.,Service connection was denied for hyperkeratotic lesions of the bilateral feet and hallux rigidus of the left foot due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in greater than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to September 2016, or greater than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from that date onward. The most probative evidence is against a finding that his service-connected disability precludes him from maintaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, effective March 9, 2004. The claim for TDIU based on PTSD is moot due to the grant of a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). There are no other issues pending before the Board.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation for left knee disability from 20 percent to 10 percent effective January 1, 2015 was not proper. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from April 21, 2014. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with depression. Additionally, he/she is requesting a review to determine if there was clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions denying service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the right median nerve, shell fragment wound of the right thigh with right trochanteric pain condition, residuals of status post shell fragment wound of the right forearm, and residuals of shell fragment wound of the right arm, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 19, 2009.

The Board found that there is no credible corroborating evidence of a stressor event in service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective April 22, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and researching environmental exposure during his service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is linked to his in-service personal assault, and the Board resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.