PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to October 7, 2011.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is as likely as not related to his military service, and he does not currently have malaria or any residuals of malaria.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and PTSD, as well as GERD, have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his personality disorder and associated depressive disorder, which were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board granted a TDIU effective December 4, 2013, and denied service connection for residuals of head injury and sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability and is currently considering whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's request for a change to his Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) was granted because the current vocational goal is no longer reasonably feasible due to increased severity of PTSD symptomatology. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has significantly impacted his ability to secure employment.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the issues related to his bilateral hearing loss and PTSD prior to July 28, 2011. The appeals were not granted as he did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective date for service connection of PTSD is May 1, 2001, based on the appellant's submission of a claim for service connection for PTSD related to military sexual trauma (MST) in May 2001. The Veteran did not have an earlier informal or formal claim for PTSD prior to this date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The decision found that there was no request for a new application prior to this date and thus, the correct effective date is January 30, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experiences.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient competent medical evidence to decide his claim.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD and PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is granted, but the maximum benefit available is not yet reached.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective July 14, 2005. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, anxiety, panic attacks, anger, and a need for cleaning.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder NOS is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective January 16, 2013. The appeal remains on hold as the TDIU issue has been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (other than posttraumatic stress disorder) are not related to his military service.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD, which renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD, ischemic heart condition, tinnitus, lumbar osteoarthritis, radiculopathy of the right leg, and ankle strain have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU based on his PTSD alone.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to PTSD, has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA clinician with an opinion regarding the etiology of his basal cell carcinoma.