PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service-connected disabilities or incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depression are related to in-service personal assaults, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to January 2, 2008.,From August 30, 2005, to January 1, 2008, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, GAD, and panic disorder with agoraphobia, is rated at 70 percent effective May 20, 2009. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU remains pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to her reported military sexual trauma during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hearing loss did not render him unemployable prior to June 17, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and potential issues with the address provided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as well as his claims for effective dates related to cervical radiculopathy, have been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and establishes service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depression, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are credible. The Veteran also has residuals of cold injury to his eyes and face which have been diagnosed by private psychologists as related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and CAD have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's PTSD evaluation remains under review.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to February 24, 2008, or in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by deficiencies in family relations, work, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a work like setting, due to such symptoms as isolation, anger, sleep impairment, hypervigilance, and panic attacks. The criteria for an initial evaluation of 70 percent, but no more, for PTSD are met.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches/dizziness have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, there is no current diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury or service-connected psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted for the entire appellate period.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. Since January 1, 2010, the Veteran has been unemployable due to service-connected PTSD.

From July 10, 2002 to March 8, 2012, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment.,As of March 9, 2012, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot due to the Veteran receiving a 100% rating for PTSD.