PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, clarifying employment status, and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the appeal is remanded for several issues, including a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, service connection for the cause of death, and nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The Veteran's claims file will be forwarded to an appropriate examiner for review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings, as well as his request to sever service connection for PTSD with MDD. The issues included various musculoskeletal conditions, a psychiatric disorder, and skin disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have been manifested by symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, occasional intrusive thoughts and nightmares (once per month), avoidance, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response. The Veteran had generally satisfactory functioning with good family relationships and friends and a variety of social activities prior to May 12, 2015. Since then, the symptoms have included difficulty understanding complex commands, mild memory impairment, impaired abstract thinking, mood disturbances, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from September 2, 2009 through July 29, 2015 and increased to 50 percent thereafter. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found that his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to acoustic trauma in service is related to his current condition. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on being housebound as he is able to leave his home and travel outside of it.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent since January 20, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating and denied claims for service connection for PTSD, depression NOS, anxiety disorder NOS, dysthymic disorder, prostate cancer, sleep apnea, or TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by deficiencies in most areas of work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and mood throughout the period on appeal. The Board found that a disability rating of 70 percent was not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claims were previously denied due to lack of a valid stressor, but new evidence was submitted that reopened the claim.

The Veteran's mood disorder, including PTSD and depression related to hearing loss, has been rated at 50 percent since January 13, 2010. The symptoms have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no credible evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service stressor that would support the claimed conditions.

For the period from February 5, 2008 through March 24, 2010, the Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent prior to March 24, 2011, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% disabling, effective October 4, 2014. The Board also denied a separate compensable rating for cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to June 11, 2016. The Board denied an increased rating and TDIU claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.