PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, gout, tinnitus, lumbar spine disc disease, and a right shoulder disability, have led to significant employment challenges. The proposed vocational rehabilitation plan does not include obtaining a Master’s Degree as it is deemed not reasonably feasible given the Veteran's current circumstances.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, are found to be related to an in-service sexual assault. The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to the Board's decision, effectively dismissing the case.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, which is currently rated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports of past sexual abuse and harassment, as well as his service treatment records indicating a perforated eardrum. The Veteran is requested to provide any private psychiatric treatment records from November 1979 to November 1997.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining relevant records. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and a left foot disability are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD and depression is currently rated at 70 percent, but not higher, throughout the claims period.,The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and verifying his reported stressors. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance, is related to in-service military sexual trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD, has been rated at 30 percent since April 30, 2010. The Board finds that the current rating of 30 percent is appropriate given the severity and frequency of his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with related depression has been rated at 70 percent since November 5, 2013. The symptoms have caused significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and residuals of bilateral toe surgery, concluding that his personality disorder pre-existed service and is not related to military service. The Veteran was also unable to establish a current disability due to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and verify service exposure. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes, a psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and a headache are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD did not cause total occupational and social impairment prior to August 1, 2012. For the period from February 11, 2013, to March 2, 2014, it caused significant impairment but not total.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 24, 2015 is denied as the evidence does not support that his PTSD prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, diagnosed as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is currently rated at 50 percent prior to February 23, 2016, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic ear infections and TDIU prior to September 16, 2013 was denied as there is no current evidence of a chronic ear infection disability. The Board found that the Veteran could still secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his age and economic factors.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating.