PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms of occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The evidence does not support a higher rating or TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to June 14, 2013, and the claim for service connection of his knee disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a previous decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, previously claimed as bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of infectious hepatitis was denied. The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD effective June 13, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service combat experience, while his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown until decades after service and are unrelated to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depression and PTSD are caused by a fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, leading to the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 1, 2015 did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 70 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is as likely as not related to in-service personal assault, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an adjustment disorder from October 18, 2007 to December 16, 2015. The claim for anxiety disorder and additional acquired psychiatric disorders (in addition to PTSD and depressive disorder) is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence submitted since the July 2005 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, the Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as there is no current diagnosis of such disorders or a causal relationship to in-service events.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to July 1, 2015, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and experience prior to July 31, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, secondary to his service-connected left elbow disability, was denied. His PTSD claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling throughout the appeal period, with entitlement to TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate granted.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis C, but denied all other issues due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder and determine whether he has any other psychiatric conditions with distinguishable symptoms from his service-connected condition. Additionally, a VA audiological examination should be conducted to determine if the Veteran currently experiences left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD. As a result, the Board has dismissed this appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD disability rating was increased to 70 percent effective March 8, 2016. Prior to that date, the Veteran received a 50 percent disability rating for his PTSD. The Board found that he met criteria for TDIU as of March 8, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and medical records relied upon in considering those benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in permanent and total disability that would qualify him for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grant.