PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 18, 2016. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis and granted it. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD is also found to be related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD and MDD, finding a link between his current symptoms and in-service stressor. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted as his combined rating of 70% or greater satisfies the schedular requirements.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled video hearing. He has requested that the hearing be rescheduled.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD with MDD was granted, and the effective date of service connection is set at June 1, 2010. The Veteran's cerebral infarction disability has been rated based on separate residuals since March 1, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD symptoms and for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to March 8, 2016. The symptoms included occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD, and also alleges clear and unmistakable error in a November 1999 rating decision. The case must be remanded to address both issues.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and major depressive disorder, was found to be commensurate with a disability picture that equated to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The appellant's claims for an increased rating of the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU were denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a VA social and industrial survey to assess the impact of his service-connected psychiatric disability on his employment capacity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination assessing the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

VA has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder to include sleep apnea, and/or PTSD, as secondary to military sexual assault (MST). The maximum rating of 100 percent is assigned effective November 30, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including ratings for PTSD, anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition with osteoarthritis and scars, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claims for service connection for PTSD and CTS were not addressed, and the issues of increased ratings for left knee arthritis prior to April 1, 2014, right shoulder strain, and a right shoulder scar are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a diagnosed PTSD disability related to an in-service incident which caused the Veteran to have fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to April 7, 2016 and has been increased to 50 percent from that date until February 2, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are related to his military service, including combat stressors experienced during his time in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been granted. The issue of hypertension is also addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.