PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Dependence has been rated at 70 percent since December 5, 2012. This rating is based on the severity of his symptoms which have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the symptoms are not continuous or recurrent in service. There is also no evidence of a psychosis within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors, particularly regarding civilian deaths in Korea. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The most recent VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD or any other mental disorder under DSM-V.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is pending.

The case is being remanded for additional development and readjudication due to the need for new medical opinions regarding service connection, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The effective dates are April 14, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the severity of his PTSD symptoms and its impact on his employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the lowest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation as his symptoms are considered to be within the scope of the current 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain relevant records and provide supplemental opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 70 percent disabling prior to July 11, 2017, due to severe symptoms including suicidal ideation and persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, through his authorized representative.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence was received. However, it denied both the reopening of the claim and the original claim for service connection due to lack of a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to acoustic trauma in Vietnam. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for PTSD, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has found that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, and thus grants this claim. The issue of service connection for a neurological disability, claimed as a left eye twitch, must be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 7, 2010 for diabetic nephropathy and October 27, 2010 for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity have been denied.,There were no formal or informal claims for these conditions prior to the dates assigned by the RO.

The Veteran's PTSD disability met the criteria for a 70 percent rating on June 26, 2009. The effective date of the award of a 70 percent rating is set at August 9, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD associated with alcohol abuse is currently rated 70 percent disabling from July 19, 2016. He was also granted a TDIU effective February 16, 2008.,He previously had an initial rating of 50 percent for his PTSD prior to July 19, 2016.