PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter and currently diagnosed bipolar disorder was not caused by active service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating effective from April 5, 2012. The skin disability was rated at 20% prior to January 22, 2013 and thereafter.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation effective April 25, 2016.,Beginning January 1, 2011, the Veteran meets the schedular requirements for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination for his sleep disorder. The claims will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and prostate cancer residuals have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, diagnosed to include arthritis, and for PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service events.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and PTSD have been rated appropriately, but he is not entitled to TDIU prior to November 4, 2008.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD should be May 29, 2009, as this represents a progression of other psychiatric diagnoses prior to the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding his psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since May 15, 2008. The Board finds that the disability picture most nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood and Anxiety, are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for service connection under the applicable laws and regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS Chipola and verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being reviewed.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and hypertension. The Veteran was diagnosed with PTSD during service, but the claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service. Hypertension was not present until after service and is not linked to service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest available level (70%) since December 3, 2013, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.