PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment that more nearly approximated deficiencies in most areas rather than total, warranting a disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent and the Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the entire appeal period. The issue of an increased rating remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify stressors and obtain a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD, are related to his active duty service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, has been rated at 70 percent since January 8, 2013. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects her symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have significantly impaired his ability to establish and maintain effective relationships, with occupational and social impairment. The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 50 percent is warranted for the period from February 27, 1973 to May 3, 2004.

The Veteran's PTSD and lumbar strain claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are being remanded for further development. The TDIU claim is also on appeal and will be held in abeyance until the other claims have been addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD and hypertension have been rated as 70 percent and noncompensable, respectively. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current PTSD is related to his in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain VA treatment records from the New Bedford Vet Center for PTSD therapy. The Veteran's claim for TDIU will be reconsidered after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unemployable or unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period on appeal prior to June 1, 2009.

PTSD was initially granted with a 10% rating prior to September 13, 2011 and increased to 30% from that date until May 24, 2016. After May 24, 2016, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%. Post-concussive syndrome with headaches was initially granted with a 10% rating.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his active military service, including conceded in-service stressors. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to January 4, 2012 due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,As of January 4, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 1, 2015. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence shows he was currently precluded from obtaining and maintaining such employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a disability meeting VA criteria at any time during the period of the claim. Service connection for headaches was granted based on presumed relationship to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since the initial rating period, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD since March 24, 2010. The Veteran's service connection claim for traumatic brain injury was withdrawn during his hearing.