PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and there is no indication that his service-connected PTSD prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling prior to July 21, 2011, and 70 percent disabling thereafter. The Board has granted a uniform 70 percent rating for the entirety of the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease with AICD is rated at 100% from November 1, 2006, to July 30, 2009; 60% from July 30, 2009, to September 21, 2012; and in excess of 60% from January 1, 2013, to May 3, 2015. SMC based on housebound status is granted from November 1, 2006, to July 30, 2009.

The Board has determined that the character of the Veteran's discharge from military service for the period from May 1969 to July 1972 is not a bar to VA benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and CAD, as well as his claim for a total rating based on individual disabilities prior to August 30, 2011. The decision is based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 50 percent since May 13, 2008. Since August 16, 2012, the rating has increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent for the entire appeal period, effective from July 11, 2016. Service connection for a low back disorder was not established.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for residuals of a TBI, to include vertigo, oscillopsias, abnormal gait, and status post repair of perilymph fistulas is being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum available rating. The Board finds that his symptoms do not more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded this case for additional development, including a comprehensive vocational assessment and functional capacity evaluation to determine the Veteran's ability to perform in his occupational field given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent evaluation prior to August 9, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not attributable to service, including his presumed herbicide agent exposure. The right leg disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were also denied as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and he is granted TDIU prior to September 17, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not found to be related to his military service. The Board also determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD as defined by VA regulations and therefore denied service connection for PTSD. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that his current unspecified depression disorder is related to his period of service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressor. The Veteran is also to be provided with a new VA examination to assess his psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating. However, his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.