PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to December 23, 2011 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, and he is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 2014, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for various disabilities have been remanded due to the need for clarification of which psychiatric disability has been granted, new VA examinations, and consideration of TDIU prior to April 6, 2011.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's stressors during military service are considered sufficient to meet the criteria for PTSD and his current diagnosis is related to his in-service experiences.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, service connection for cataracts and erectile dysfunction. The Board has dismissed these matters.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to inadequate examination and incomplete records. The VA must attempt to obtain the Veteran's EEOC complaint, private treatment records from Old City Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and VA treatment records from April 2014 to present.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 27, 2009, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The decision states that the Veteran did not raise a claim for PTSD when he submitted his October 1998 compensation and pension application.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial disability rating for PTSD with secondary depressive disorder and drug and alcohol abuse in full remission.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a disability rating of 70 percent.,Beginning January 1, 2010, the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was increased to 70 percent effective March 19, 2015. The appeal for a higher initial rating is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and employment information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including contacting the Veteran's representative and soliciting a completed VA Form 646 statement. The claims of increased PTSD rating and TDIU will be reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to her in-service military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied, and the initial evaluation for PTSD remains at 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was not found to warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent, as it did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Board hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, bilateral cataracts, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The claim of sleep apnea was withdrawn by the Veteran during his October 2016 hearing.