PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily PTSD and hepatitis C, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD, heart condition (atrial fibrillation), back condition, neck condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military service and whether he experienced a personal assault during service. The case is being remanded for an examination and additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been rated at 30 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting predominant symptoms such as depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety, sleep impairment, and depression is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 7, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to August 21, 2014, and denied the claim for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy, his claimed stressor event is not related to hostile or terrorist activity and is not verified. The current psychiatric disorder to include adjustment disorder first manifested many years after service separation and is not related to disease or injury or other event in active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service, specifically the fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during his deployment in Southwest Asia. Service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to August 28, 2007. The Board also granted TDIU for the period prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since August 13, 2014. The claim for service connection for a skin disability and sleep disorder was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since September 28, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms have worsened and warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, as well as any other sleep disturbance disabilities found to be present. The examiner will provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or due to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence and depressive disorder has resulted in total social and occupational impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his service-connected PTSD, as the most recent evaluation was conducted nearly four years ago and there are indications that his disability may have worsened since then.

The Veteran's service connection claims for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and posttraumatic stress disorder are both granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive features has been granted a higher rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.