PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and no present psychiatric disability is attributable to military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA Vocational Rehabilitation file and scheduling him for an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral knees, and low back, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantial gainful employment from September 27, 2010, through May 31, 2014. He is now employed as a service technician.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it originated during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding insufficient credible supporting evidence to corroborate his claimed in-service stressor of military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD resulted in total occupational and social impairment from March 31, 2006 to September 29, 2011. The Board denied the earlier effective date claim as well as the TDIU claim for this period.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for chronic intermittent neck muscle strain with C5-6 spurring was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the Board's decision.,The reduction in the rating for PTSD from 70 percent to 30 percent, effective April 1, 2014, is considered improper and the original rating of 70 percent is restored. The November 2014 rating that increased the PTSD rating to 50 percent remains valid.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records related to his PTSD. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also part of the pending claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling from February 1, 2005. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not been shown to warrant a higher disability rating, as they do not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for PTSD with major depressive disorder has been granted. The initial rating of 70 percent is in effect since April 28, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 2011, reflecting occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in the loss of use of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. Therefore, he is entitled to specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood throughout the appeal period. A rating in excess of 70 percent is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is causally related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is denied for skin cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder are related to his service. The decision also grants secondary service connection for his alcohol use disorder based on its relationship to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with depression is granted, and the effective date is set at November 30, 1992.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service. The other claims for PTSD and GAD were denied as there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating has been granted. However, since the grant of a 100% rating for PTSD renders moot the issue of TDIU, the Veteran no longer qualifies for this benefit.