PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling since March 6, 2015, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his severe social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and found no causal link to service. The left knee disability was also denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to August 28, 2009 was partially granted with a 50 percent rating assigned. The issues of an earlier effective date and a higher rating are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the period on appeal, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it was caused by his combat experience in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature of his current diagnoses and the etiology of those diagnoses. The Veteran has not provided verified in-service stressors supporting a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies are found to be due to herbicide agent exposure, specifically Agent Orange. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a generalized anxiety disorder and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and a mood disorder) as well as service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and granted it.,Service connection is denied for heart disease, as there is no current diagnosis of a heart disability during the pendency of this appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive features and alcohol dependence is currently rated at 70 percent, effective November 18, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU from November 18, 2011 to June 20, 2014.,PTSD alone prevents the Veteran from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least 2000.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for PTSD. As a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), has been granted. His herpes simplex and dermatitis have also been rated at the 10% level.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining pertinent records from SSA and VA treatment providers.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for TDIU as of May 28, 2010. The appeals for service connection for residuals of scorpion sting poisoning; higher initial ratings for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss; and an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and chloracne of the back and right leg are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, migraine headaches, and TBI were denied. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's conditions warranted a higher rating at any point during the period on appeal.