PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new compensation examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression remains under consideration.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service connected due to a personal assault in service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connection based on the medical evidence linking his reported stressors to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD with other specified depressive disorder is currently evaluated at 50 percent, effective September 5, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation and denied both his increased rating claim for PTSD and his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 8, 2010. His CAD has been rated at 10 percent since August 31, 2010, and increased to 60 percent from December 18, 2013, to March 18, 2017, with a return to 10 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by symptoms such as panic attacks, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of posttraumatic stress disorder and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal on the issue of the evaluation of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined evaluation of 70 percent, which is high enough to warrant TDIU from September 13, 2010 to August 6, 2013. The effective date for service connection for PTSD has been set at June 9, 2010.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the right ankle have been withdrawn.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD that manifested in service or was otherwise etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD prior to September 20, 2012. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The claims of special monthly compensation and increased evaluation for PTSD will be reconsidered after the hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, resulting in a finding that the disability does not warrant a rating higher than the current 50 percent.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU since April 29, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in a combined rating of 60 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 9, 2012. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board found that the current rating adequately captures his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thoracic spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a hearing request and pending appeal to the Court.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a low back disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also addressed issues related to reopening his claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded again due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and treatment records.