PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating since November 13, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and psychosis due to the Veteran's failure to meet the criteria for these conditions, including a lack of credible stressor support.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50% from October 24, 2014. The Board finds that the symptoms associated with his PTSD have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied reopening of the claim for residuals of a low back injury. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent since March 10, 2010. The Board found that the disability picture during this period approximated occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which meets the criteria for a disability rating of at least 30 percent. The TDIU claim is granted since February 9, 2017.

The Board finds that an effective date earlier than August 10, 2009, for the award of service connection for PTSD is not warranted. The Veteran's original claim was filed on August 10, 2009, and he does not have evidence of any prior claim or adequate notice from VA to support a different effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective date and service connection, finding that he did not have a current hearing loss disability of either ear. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 1, 2014 for the payment of VA disability compensation benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 has been denied as the payment was correctly calculated with a proper payment effective date of September 1, 2014 through September 30, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by impairment of memory, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing effective social relationships. The Board determined that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas as required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD. The initial rating for PTSD prior to April 30, 2009, and on and after December 1, 2009, was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was not found to warrant a higher rating, and he is no longer eligible for TDIU prior to November 3, 2010.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, and due to an undiagnosed illness. As a result, this case is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability and entitlement to a higher initial rating for PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an enlarged prostate with increased PSA and for a psychiatric disorder were denied as the evidence did not support direct service connection, without any presumption or secondary basis.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. Other conditions are also evaluated based on their current severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and information about his employment status.