PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Appellant did not have current bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues were also addressed but are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left ankle and foot disabilities, have resulted in a combined evaluation of 80 percent. The Board has granted TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD meets the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU and precludes him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his work and education background.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with alcohol dependence is granted.,The earlier effective date claim for service connection of PTSD with alcohol dependence prior to February 15, 2011 is legally insufficient and dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted based on his inability to secure or follow gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression, NOS and alcohol use disorder has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent since the grant of service connection. The decision is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as chronic sleep impairment, social isolation, depression, and difficulty with concentration.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability has been rated at 50 percent since March 29, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as his symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but total occupational and social impairment has not been shown. The criteria for a disability rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD have not been met.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and PTSD, as well as an increased rating for migraine headaches.,Service connection was not granted for ischemic heart disease due to lack of evidence of a current disability. Service connection was also not granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD causes anger and irritability, to include physical and verbal altercations with coworkers and family; sleep disturbances and sleep impairment; intrusive thoughts and flashbacks; guilt; avoidance of distressing memories, thoughts, feelings, and external reminders of his in-service stressors; occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity; a persistent negative emotional state; diminished interest or participation in significant activities; hypervigilance; problems with concentration; anxiety; suspiciousness; and mild memory loss. However, the Veteran's PTSD does not cause total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn regarding cervical dysplasia. The remaining issues have not been granted as service connection is denied for ulcerative colitis, chronic respiratory disorder, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), left arm paresthesia, pancreas disorder, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects the severity of his symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability found, to include PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder. The AOJ should also obtain all outstanding VA treatment records from the Silver Spring Vet Center.

The Board finds that the appellant's PTSD is not service-connected because his National Guard duty in July 1967 was not considered active service for VA benefits purposes.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a disability rating of 70 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with somatoform disorder NOS and coronary artery disease rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 14, 2010, to October 17, 2012.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeals for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of PTSD and degenerative changes, lumbar spine with right side sciatica.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed as there are no remaining issues for review.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and found that a higher evaluation is not warranted for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's restrictive lung disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, to include as due to presumed exposure to an herbicide agent during Vietnam service.