PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, was granted a disability rating of 50 percent throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD effective March 3, 2008 and has also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, and she has been granted a compensable rating for external otitis. However, her claim for left ear hearing loss was denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorders, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and schizophrenia. The VA will gather more recent treatment records and schedule a new examination for an opinion on the onset of these conditions during service or their connection to service.

The Veteran's PTSD results in total occupational and social impairment, meeting the criteria for a 100% disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 15, 2011 for PTSD service connection and has remanded his claim of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that an increased rating beyond this level is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with MDD and GAD was granted, effective from April 29, 2005. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred prior to the filing of the claim.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess his PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since June 13, 2012, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor is rated as noncompensable due to less than five percent of the total body and exposed areas being affected, with no systemic therapy required.,There is no current diagnosis of dysentery in the record. The Veteran has not provided credible evidence that he experienced a stressor during service which would support a PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the examination report and need for a new VA psychiatric evaluation using DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 8, 2013 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's original claim was denied in May 1997 due to lack of current diagnosis and non-compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disability is not related to service. Therefore, he is denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the Veteran not attending a scheduled VA examination. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent disability rating from March 14, 1985 to November 14, 2002.