PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death claim should be remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion regarding the relationship between his service and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has limited him to marginal employment since November 17, 2008. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his PTSD.

The Board found no evidence of current sciatica, PTSD, or hearing loss for VA purposes and denied the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 19, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for the claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disability, or bilateral hearing loss disability.,All three disabilities were not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating prior to January 28, 2014. As of January 28, 2014, the Veteran's PTSD caused more severe impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine and PTSD with mood disorder was denied. The Board found that a 40 percent rating is warranted for DDD prior to February 23, 2009, but not after. For PTSD, a 70 percent rating is granted from October 12, 2013 onwards.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to July 11, 2011. Effective from that date, the rating was increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was denied, while his PTSD claim resulted in a grant of a 70% disability rating prior to August 31, 2010. The decision is mixed as it addresses both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining treatment records.

The Veteran's gallbladder removal is not service-connected.,PTSD was initially granted with a 50% rating prior to March 22, 2011 and increased to 70% thereafter.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder, NOS were found to be disabling enough to warrant a 50 percent initial rating prior to September 27, 2012. From that date, the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's PTSD with a history of mood disorder is rated at 50 percent effective March 9, 2011. The right knee retropatellar pain syndrome remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran is found unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD, which prevents him from obtaining or maintaining such employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been shown to meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent, resulting in a denial of this claim. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is addressed in the REMAND portion and is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a supplemental VA opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.