PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, depression, and substance abuse have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent from August 1, 2008 to June 16, 2014.

The Veteran is currently self-employed as a barber, has worked steadily in that capacity since 1977, and has annual earnings significantly higher than the poverty threshold for one person. Therefore, she does not qualify for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a TBI is granted. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 30, 2009. The Board finds that the current rating of 70 percent is appropriate as his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of a diagnosis related to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 3, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, depression, PTSD, and alcoholism, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's sinusitis is not service-connected.,PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 13, 2012. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent prior to that date and found the evidence does not support a rating higher than 70 percent from that point forward.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as it is rated at 50% and does not exceed this percentage. The Board finds that the Veteran is capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment due to his education, work experience, and functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment, and the Board finds that a TDIU is warranted from July 1, 2011, to December 11, 2011, and from February 1, 2012.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional development including updated VA treatment records and a VA examination are needed.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD service connection is granted, and the appeal for service connection of lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to left knee disability is also granted. The Board finds that new evidence received raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and PTSD, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of additional evidence submitted since the last decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, an increased rating for PTSD, and a compensable rating for gynecological disability were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current right ankle disability or any other condition related to military service. For PTSD, the Board noted that while the Veteran had significant symptoms consistent with PTSD, her occupational and social impairment did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 50 percent. For gynecological disability, the Board found that there was no indication of a current disability warranting a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that his symptoms more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating and did not meet the requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, secondary to his right thumb disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis and remanded the remaining issues to obtain additional VA treatment records, address the Veteran's assertions regarding his psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability, and schedule appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for development due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD and updated treatment records. The TDIU claim may also be impacted by this decision.