PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to conduct a new psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examinations and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD no longer warrants a 100% evaluation, as there is evidence of improvement in his condition and ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at a 50 percent rating prior to March 8, 2011 and at a 70 percent rating from March 8, 2011. The decision is granted for the higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination, as the Veteran was unable to attend his scheduled examination. The examiner will assess any acquired psychiatric disorders and determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating prior to December 11, 2015 and from March 1, 2016. A TDIU has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service, thus granting service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety), a gastrointestinal disability (including gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)), and insomnia due to outstanding records from service treatment and personnel records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with depression, is rated at a 70 percent disability rating prior to July 7, 2016. The claim for a higher than 70 percent rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from August 20, 2011 to July 25, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and denied the claim for an increased rating. The heart disability issue is remanded due to lack of recent medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was received by VA on September 30, 2011. The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 30, 2011 for the award of TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, undifferentiated type. The case is remanded to obtain additional development regarding PTSD and any other psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because there was no evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 17, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood from December 13, 2006, to May 17, 2012. The evidence does not reflect that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disability during this period.

Service connection for a left knee disorder is granted. A disability rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD is denied. Bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The conditions of interest include dental issues, hallux valgus of the feet, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right ankle condition, varicocele condition, low back condition, left knee condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headache condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, headache disability, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and hypertension. However, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for spinal stenosis status-post lumbar laminectomy and PTSD due to incomplete records from SSA, VA medical records, and a need to obtain all relevant records. The Veteran's attorney pointed out that there are incomplete SSA records and recent VA medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Board found that the symptoms did not more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.