PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The Veteran also maintains his TDIU claim, which is pending.

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

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule him for a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as there is credible supporting evidence of a personal assault in-service and no clear and convincing evidence to contradict it. The Veteran's personality changes post-service are attributed to this alleged in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 3, 2012. The rating is granted as the symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran claims service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dissociative disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and need for further examination.

The Veteran is prevented from securing and following substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD prior to April 3, 2014, and TDIU due to PTSD was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered additional development for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations to address his cervical spine, right hand, lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claims. The Veteran will be provided with a comprehensive examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) and scheduling an updated VA examination to assess his current PTSD severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD, which renders him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, effective from September 26, 2012. The earlier effective date of August 20, 2013, grants the Veteran a 50 percent rating for PTSD prior to January 19, 2017 and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to May 28, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent prior to November 8, 2013 and was increased to 70 percent effective from that date.,Since June 1, 2013, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based solely on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-IV criteria and finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder NOS, and dysthymic disorder, are etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 17, 1999 through January 4, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD disability ratings are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and readjudication due to failure to comply with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD was remanded by the Board. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and provide due process before adjudicating the case again.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at various levels since the appeal began, but no higher ratings are warranted based on the evidence provided.