PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran is granted an effective date of June 2, 2004 for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of March 16, 2007 for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 4, 2011. The effective date for this rating is not specified as the claim was granted in a September 2016 decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding his HCV. The claims are pending further development.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on housebound status beyond December 1, 2012. He has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent due to diabetes mellitus and its associated conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and back disability) render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70% since March 1, 2012. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected PTSD and hearing disability.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 1, 2012, and 50 percent beginning May 1, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board has found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, but the issue of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is pending as there is insufficient information to determine its status.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected and rated at 70 percent. The Board found that his alcohol abuse disorder was not related to his military service or his service-connected PTSD, and denied the claim for an increased rating for left thigh and left foot pruritic fungus. The right buttock shell fragment wound with retained foreign body and scar of right frontal scalp shell fragment wound were also rated as appropriate.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was service-connected due to an in-service stressor, and granted his claim.

The Board denied the claims regarding CUE in the October 2008 rating decision for not assigning a separate compensable rating for alcohol dependence and remanded the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to November 18, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an increased rating for his low back disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to his low back disability, and TDIU. The Board found that the assigned schedular ratings adequately reflected the Veteran's disability picture.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or other causation.

The Veteran seeks TDIU based on his service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD. The Board has determined that the December 2016 VA examination is inadequate, and a remand is required to obtain an addendum opinion from the examiner or another appropriate medical professional.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to August 25, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms from September 30, 2014, more closely approximated a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the grant of service connection, effective from October 1, 2012. His TMJ is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from October 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder due to his incarceration and inability to attend a VA examination. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent disabling since April 2, 2014. He also has a TDIU from November 15, 2013, and the effective date for his increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD was established as April 2, 2014.