PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and verifying the Veteran's reported in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. However, the evidence does not support a higher 100 percent rating due to lack of severe symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to July 6, 2010, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depression is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD, there is competent medical evidence of a nexus between her PTSD and her claimed in-service stressor, and credible evidence that the stressor occurred. Major depression is also found to be associated with PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. The issue of service connection for depression and PTSD is addressed separately.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from November 27, 2007. His diabetes mellitus remains at a 20 percent rating. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining updated medical records. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent and in excess of 30 percent from September 15, 2010 for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse was previously rated at 100 percent, but the VA Regional Office (RO) reduced it to 70 percent effective June 1, 2012. The Board found that this reduction was improper and restored the original rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from March 31, 2009 to March 3, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent. The Veteran also meets criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, and SMC at the housebound rate based on his combined disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate the degree of occupational and social impairment contemplated by a 50 percent schedular rating, but no higher.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 7, 2005 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on newly received service personnel records that verified his in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service and obtain relevant medical records. The claims for service connection and TDIU will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 21, 2009. The Board granted an earlier effective date to August 15, 2008 for the award of service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 17, 2014. The RO increased the Veteran's PTSD rating to 70 percent effective May 13, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression associated with TBI was granted a 50% rating, effective August 11, 2011. The RO also granted an increased initial rating of 70% for PTSD with anxiety and depressive disorder in December 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA cardiologist regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated the Veteran's death.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD and schizophrenia.