PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to June 28, 2012, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of occasional decrease in occupational and social functioning.,Effective June 28, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating due to moderate impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's VRE claim was denied as he failed to maintain satisfactory conduct and cooperation in developing his individualized written rehabilitation plan (IWRP), despite VA making reasonable efforts to assist him.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The Board also granted the TDIU effective October 6, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas after April 8, 2015. The Board found that a rating of 70 percent is warranted for this period.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to May 26, 2009 and has been granted a higher rating since then.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant, through his authorized representative, requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current diagnoses of PTSD or hearing loss, and his tinnitus was not linked to service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is November 4, 2008. The Veteran's claim was received on this date and she was granted service connection for PTSD along with a recharacterization of her psychiatric disability as including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hypertension, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis A, and erectile dysfunction. Special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service connection claims for PTSD, hearing loss, and arthritis are not supported by the provided information. The Veteran has been granted new evidence to reopen his claim for fibromyalgia, but no rating assigned due to lack of supporting documentation or evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a comprehensive psychiatric examination, and considering all evidence in the context of the Veteran's service history.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and finds that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's fear of hostile military activity during his service in Vietnam is found to be credible, and he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU is currently before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a neck injury were denied as there is no current diagnosis of either condition, and the evidence does not support service connection.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. The Board finds that the evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder NOS has been granted a 70% evaluation effective January 11, 2016. He is also entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% prior to June 14, 2016, and increased to 70% effective June 14, 2016. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, thyroidectomy, multiple facial scars, numbness of the right jaw, scar of the right leg, and scar of the right index finger do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.