PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent since August 17, 2015. The appeal involves determining if a higher rating was warranted prior to that date.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are related to his active service. The case is now remanded for further development regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a request for substitution of the Veteran's surviving spouse.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 4, 2014, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder alone precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 31, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA PTSD examination to determine if the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disability related to his military service, including his conceded stressor. The examiner must consider conducting MMPI-2 and PAI tests to assess the validity of the Veteran's self-reporting.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to October 2, 2015 resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.,For the period prior to October 2, 2015, the Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling prior to January 26, 2017 and has been increased to 70 percent disabling on and after January 26, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, the highest available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board finds that his symptoms meet the criteria for this rating and grants the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied in October 2002. New evidence received since that decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and determining whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,PTSD was granted with a rating of 70 percent effective from March 12, 2004 to February 10, 2017. The claim for an increased rating beyond this period is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches are service-connected. Service connection for a groin disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral shin splints, skin disorder, and erectile dysfunction is not established. The Veteran has an extraschedular rating for his lumbar spine condition and the claim for a higher PTSD rating was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for his bilateral knee conditions, PTSD, or hearing loss/tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of his combat service in Vietnam. His hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to May 3, 2017 and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms varying in severity based on mood and alcohol abuse.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.