PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is denied. The Board also remanded the issues regarding higher ratings for his psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty in whether the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD or any other mental disorder, and if so, whether it is related to his military service. A new VA examination will be conducted to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's TBI, depressive disorder NOS, and PTSD are currently rated at 40 percent. The appeal is denied as the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with substance abuse has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, which is why his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 23, 2014 for the award of a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The decision is based on the Veteran's consistent symptoms and impairment since his claim in April 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a total disability rating based on unemployability.

The Veteran's IBS is granted as secondary to her service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder. Her total hysterectomy remains at a 30% rating, with no change in the effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and residuals of brain tumor have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Veteran is granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD from December 28, 2007 to May 8, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied. The initial evaluation for PTSD was also denied, but a TDIU rating based on the severity of his PTSD symptoms was granted as of September 13, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been denied as there is no credible stressor supporting the claimed in-service events and his current diagnoses are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been denied as the new evidence received does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness for pre-existing disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hip disabilities and psychiatric disorders, have been reopened. The cases are remanded to determine the appropriate service connection based on new evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The right shoulder condition is remanded as it may be related to her service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU rating from September 13, 2006.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and increased rating for Anxiety Disorder NOS due to the need for additional evidentiary development.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating for TBI and a TDIU are denied. The Board found that there was no legal basis to establish an earlier effective date for these awards, as they were based on service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at a 30 percent for the period prior to November 8, 2014 and following March 1, 2015 and prior to November 9, 2017 and following March 1, 2018.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bipolar II disorder, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder prior to July 8, 2014, and in excess of 70 percent from July 8, 2014, were dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was remanded.