PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and a more contemporaneous examination of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private physicians and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since July 14, 2010 and denied for a higher rating. The TDIU claim has been raised but not adjudicated.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking an effective date prior to June 4, 2013, for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities have rendered him unemployable. The Board granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) effective April 1, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and determining the etiology of his claimed conditions.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.,For his gastric disorder, a maximum rating of 60 percent has been granted based on severe symptoms including pain, vomiting, and weight loss.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, due to symptoms such as irritability (without periods of violence), anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, short-term memory impairment, and disturbances of motivation and mood. The Board finds that a 30 percent evaluation for PTSD meets the criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since August 2017, effective from the date of her examination. Her left knee osteoarthritis and pelvic inflammatory disease are each rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus denies an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. For TDIU, the Veteran has provided sufficient evidence to warrant consideration of a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for loss of thyroid and TDIU are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 20, 2017. The rating is granted and effective as of that date.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, finding no evidence indicating that the Veteran intended to file a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to October 25, 2000.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have significantly worsened since November 2, 2017, rendering him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. His current level of disability meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD results in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating. The Veteran's CAD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD results in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a higher initial rating of 70 percent. The Board also finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, granting TDIU.

The Veteran does not have PTSD that is related to his military service and the claim for service connection has been denied.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD, effective from January 5, 2010 to February 13, 2012 and since April 1, 2012. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is moot due to the grant of a total (100%) rating for PTSD.