PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since July 10, 2010, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected alcohol abuse substantially and materially contributed to his fatal heart or vascular disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing on all issues currently on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was denied as the evidence does not show it is related to service or any service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was denied as there is no evidence showing exposure to herbicides and the disease may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder was rated at 30 percent from January 26, 2009 through August 6, 2015. Since February 3, 2016, the rating has been increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 30, 2009, for service connection for PTSD was denied as the earliest communication subject to the February 2008 denial is the December 2009 claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case as a result.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 23, 2016 is denied as his combined disability rating is now at 100% and he has a 100% rating for PTSD. The issue of TDIU from May 23, 2016 remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left leg disability, a right shoulder disability, and a right arm neurological disability. The Board found no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to support any diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and CAD disabilities alone do not render him unemployable, as he has been employed in various roles including customer service and bartending.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a higher rating of PTSD. The Board has dismissed the claim as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to evaluate his current PTSD symptoms, as there may have been a material change in disability since the last examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas for the entire appeal period, due to such symptoms as suicidal ideation, impaired impulse control, obsessional rituals, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. A rating of 70 percent is granted from January 11, 2008 to May 4, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder and depression (PTSD), and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted.,Initial ratings of 30 percent, 50 percent, 20 percent, and 40 percent have been assigned for PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, respectively.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with at most occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board finds that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher initial rating for PTSD has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD with alcohol and substance abuse and depression, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ due to a request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge, and the Veteran's representative wishes to proceed with such a hearing.