PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety disorder has been granted an initial rating of 100 percent, reflecting total occupational and social impairment due to persistent delusions or hallucinations, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, and memory loss for names of close relatives.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxious mood. The issue of entitlement to TDIU was also raised by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and diagnoses.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from August 9, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of new claims raised by the Veteran. The TDIU claim will be addressed in conjunction with these new claims.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and complete compliance with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected PTSD did not meet the criteria for extraschedular consideration due to his employment with his son, which is considered marginal employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Diabetes Mellitus, and Peripheral Neuropathy) have rendered him unemployable since February 9, 2009. However, the Board denied entitlement to Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) as no single disability has caused his unemployability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are related to his active service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as other specified trauma, stressor related disorder, intermittent explosive disorder and PTSD, was incurred during active service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from September 5, 2012. The appeal is now remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to April 4, 2014 and granted a rating of 70 percent. The back disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to May 5, 2015 and granted a rating of 20 percent. Right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated as noncompensable prior to May 5, 2015 and granted a rating of 20 percent. Hemorrhoids were rated as noncompensable prior to July 7, 2015 and granted a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered after the additional evidence has been obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disability, other than of the legs and feet, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is dismissed.,The claim to reopen the issue of service connection for skin rash of the legs and feet, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure, has been denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, vertigo, and increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was granted with an effective date of June 13, 1980. The original claim was filed on June 13, 1980 and new and material evidence was received within one year of the February 1981 rating decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 30 percent disabling from October 1, 2009 to June 1, 2014 (excluding the period of a temporary total rating), and as 50 percent disabling from June 1, 2014 to September 26, 2014. The Veteran's PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation at any point during this time.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. However, this claim is being remanded for further development as an additional VA examination is needed to determine if any currently or previously diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has resulted in occupational and social impairment that warrants a 70 percent rating.