PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since July 22, 2016, due to total occupational and social impairment. From October 6, 2009, the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to January 2, 2015. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD effective from the date of the decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating higher than 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and cognitive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from September 15, 2011 to June 13, 2016. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's back disability and PTSD are not service-connected, and the rating for PTSD prior to April 1, 2009 is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected.,His headaches are found to be secondary to his PTSD.,His low back disorder is service-connected as a result of injury in service.,No specific issues regarding bilateral knee or left hip disorders were addressed due to the withdrawal of appeal for these claims.,Tinnitus was granted based on combat exposure and noise trauma during service.

The Veteran is entitled to a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD under the version of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(c) in effect at the time his claim was filed, prior to August 1, 1999.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral foot disability and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with substance abuse (alcohol) and major depressive disorder is currently evaluated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than August 4, 1998, for service connection for PTSD based on the final denial of the claim in June 1990 and the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim in February 2000.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA psychologist or psychiatrist to address the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder. The issues on appeal are whether service connection should be granted for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his PTSD. The TDIU claim must also be remanded due to its inextricability with the PTSD rating issue.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need to obtain SSA records, and no other specific issues are resolved.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to July 11, 2013. The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for this period.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, and depression, are not etiologically related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and mood disorder NOS are currently rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the claim. The residuals of TBI have been rated at 10 percent from July 25, 2011 to April 12, 2013, and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU.