PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant impairment, including frequent panic attacks and difficulty adapting to work settings. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective July 25, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent disability rating effective June 3, 2011. The Board also denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was previously denied in 1976, but new evidence (military personnel records) associated with the case after September 23, 1976, led to a grant of service connection. The effective date is set at the date the claim was received by VA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hearing loss, do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 29, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, meeting the criteria for a 50% disability rating from July 17, 2006 to August 16, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 4, 2016. The effective date for this rating is not specified.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective July 2, 2010. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the appeal period began, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder was not productive of total social and occupational impairment prior to February 23, 2011. The Veteran's fibromyalgia with epicondylitis has been manifested by constant and refractory chronic fatigue, paresthesias in the hands and feet, tremors in the hands, and musculoskeletal symptoms including pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, achiness, myalgia, arthralgia, and decreased exercise tolerance. The Veteran does not currently have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran withdrew from appeal all issues related to PTSD, seizures, skin cancer, neurological disability, and cysts before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, skin disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 100 percent throughout the entire appeal period, representing total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, which is inextricably intertwined with the tinnitus issue, will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his employability and the severity of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his employability and the severity of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported in-service stressor of sexual harassment is corroborated by medical and other evidence, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted.,Service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes is not warranted as there was no loss of teeth due to trauma or disease during service.

The Veteran's TDIU was originally effective May 21, 2006. The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining SSA records and readjudicating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA social and industrial survey to assess the combined impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for muscle stiffness was also denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish its etiology.