PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to technical issues with the hearing transcript. He will be scheduled for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in severe impairment, but not total occupational and social impairment. The initial rating of 70% is granted for the entire initial rating period from May 28, 2009.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability had onset during his active service, and the Board finds credible and competent the Veteran's account of noise exposure in service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for various issues related to his service-connected conditions, including a TDIU claim, was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals of Issues 1-6 on the title page. The Board granted a TDIU from November 1, 2011, to November 18, 2012.

The Veteran's left vagal nerve injury and stomach conditions have been rated at 30 percent since August 6, 2010.,PTSD with secondary dysthymia has been rated at 10 percent until April 16, 2013 when a 70 percent evaluation was assigned.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is currently on appeal and has been remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining information about stressors and verifying service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Malaria have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the entire appeal period, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 21, 2013 was granted with an effective date of May 21, 2013. The claims for increased evaluations for posttraumatic stress disorder were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's unemployability is due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD and prostate cancer with urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment starting from December 5, 2014, forward. However, he was able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to that date.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of all pending appeals by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for PTSD, but the Board finds that a higher rating of 30 percent is warranted based on his symptoms and impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 15, 1997 for a 100% rating for PTSD is denied. The final denial in October 1997 was based on insufficient evidence to grant service connection at that time.

The Veteran's PTSD with agoraphobia resulted in occupational and social impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to August 20, 2014. The claim was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 1, 2007. The symptoms include trouble sleeping, isolating behaviors, nightmares, increased irritability and anger.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining information about the Veteran's in-service stressors. The issue of service connection for residuals of head trauma is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private mental health treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's PTSD. The appeal is now pending again.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with PTSD features resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to July 17, 2014.