PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 2011, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.,The Board also found the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's employment as a VA social worker is being reviewed to determine if it constitutes marginal or protected employment due to his service-connected PTSD. If found to be marginal, the Veteran may be eligible for TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the issue of entitlement to a TDIU. As such, the Board dismisses the appeal for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling an examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 28, 2009. The Board found that the disability picture does not more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and scar disability did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment prior to his death in December 2009.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings and an earlier effective date for PTSD was granted, but the specific details of the rating assigned or effective date are not provided in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Diabetes Mellitus type 2, and Hepatitis C) have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 2, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds TDIU is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 19, 2009. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms and impairment caused by the condition.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to January 11, 2011 did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as her impairment was limited to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from October 11, 2000 to October 12, 2001 and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits from October 11, 2000.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported in-service stressor of finding a deceased service member is credible and consistent with his mental health treatment records. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD and mood disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck disability, back disability, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, either individually or through their combined-effect thereof, do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to June 5, 2014 and at 50 percent from that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for either period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating of 50 percent, and his claims for reopening service connection for right knee and right hand disabilities have been successful.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from August 17, 2010 to August 18, 2012. From August 19, 2012, the rating for PTSD has not met the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of cervical strain and granted it. The Veteran is also granted service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and disequilibrium as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches. However, the reduction in disability rating for lumbar spine disability was not proper, and the 40% rating has been restored.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU prior to August 18, 2009 and an initial disability rating of 30 percent for PTSD. The evidence shows the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable on a schedular basis as of September 14, 2009.