PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and review of the July 2016 PTSD DBQ.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as depression, anxiety, intrusive memories of traumatic events, and irritability. This results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death, leading to dementia. The Board finds that the evidence supports the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a TDIU, as his PTSD and cervical strain with degenerative disc and joint disease prevent him from engaging in any type of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including DID and PTSD. The decision will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in symptoms that approximate total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100 percent disability rating. The claim for TDIU is rendered moot as he already receives a 100 percent schedular rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for residuals of TBI was denied, but he received a noncompensable rating for PTSD. The decision did not address service connection for grinding teeth or peripheral neuropathy.

The Board granted service connection for a deviated septum and PTSD, finding that new evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to warrant a disability rating of 50 percent prior to March 18, 2013.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU beginning on December 6, 2006 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU beginning on and after November 30, 2015 is moot as it would be a duplication of the existing disability picture.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability has been found to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU effective January 2005.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was denied in June 2008, but new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. Service connection is granted for left and right knee disabilities due to a motor vehicle accident in 1983. The rating assigned is 10% for each knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD claim has been reopened and service connection is granted. For the period prior to January 28, 2016, a 50% disability rating for migraine headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, singly or jointly with some other condition, were not the immediate or underlying cause of death or etiologically related thereto; nor did they contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's cause of death.,Cancer was first shown years post-service and is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since November 17, 2005. The Board found that an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to January 22, 2007 is not warranted due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on social and occupational functioning. A rating in excess of 30 percent from April 1, 2007 until September 22, 2008 was also denied as there were no findings indicating a level of impairment warranting such a higher rating.

The Board finds that compelling circumstances have been shown to justify the appellant's extended absence from April 1968 to October 1968, and therefore the character of his discharge does not constitute a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinea pedis do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, necessitating the grant of SMC at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to bring his combined disability rating to 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or higher; taken together, these service-connected disabilities preclude the Veteran from maintaining gainful employment.