PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, effective from the date of the April 2016 remand order by the Court.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right wrist, hand, or thumb disability has been reopened. The appeal is mixed as the Veteran was granted an increased rating for PTSD but denied service connection for his claimed wrist condition.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is rated at 100 percent effective September 17, 2007. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding no medical relationship between his current psychiatric conditions and either his service or his service-connected adductors myositis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded to obtain updated treatment records, a VA examination, and further development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating was received within one year of the granting of his other claims (lumbar spine, bilateral hip and PTSD disabilities) for compensation. The earliest date as of which it is ascertainable that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment is November 14, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum available rating under the applicable diagnostic code. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment since May 27, 2005. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise on whether his PTSD manifested by total occupational and social impairment for the entire period of appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for lung disorder, liver disorder, tendonitis, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting the grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants this claim. However, there is no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disability such as PTSD, and thus service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability cannot be granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by pneumonia due to (or as a consequence of) small cell lung cancer. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes, PTSD, and MDD contributed materially to his cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, PTSD, and low back muscle strain, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 11, 2009. The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, joint pain manifested by undiagnosed illness (Gulf War Syndrome), and bilateral hearing loss were all denied.,No current disabilities related to the claimed conditions were found.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Board video-conference hearing and for the Veteran to provide any missing medical records.

The most probative evidence does not demonstrate that the Veteran's PTSD is productive of functional impairment comparable to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since September 16, 2010. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.