PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of a current left knee disability in the record.

The Veteran's PTSD was not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to March 21, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no credible supporting evidence of the Veteran's reported in-service stressors, and therefore service connection for PTSD cannot be established. The acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have more nearly approximated occupation and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but total occupational and social impairment has not been demonstrated since the October 26, 2010 effective date of service connection to September 20, 2016. The criteria for a 70 percent rating are met.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment, meeting the criteria for TDIU from January 6, 2015. The Board has also determined that he is unemployable prior to this date due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of TBI are currently rated at 10 percent, and his acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating.,The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted a 30 percent disability rating effective September 23, 2011. The claim for migraine headaches was also granted but at the same time.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI residuals have been rated appropriately, with the PTSD receiving a 50% rating since October 9, 2012. The TBI residuals are rated at 40% prior to that date and 50% thereafter. The Veteran is found unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, most recently characterized as an unspecified depressive disorder, is at least as likely as not etiologically related to in-service events and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected psychoneurotic disorder with anxiety, depressive features, and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and diagnosed as depression and generalized anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to verify a reported in-service stressor and to obtain a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and his acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are not related to service. The diagnosis of PTSD is denied, while depressive disorder NOS and alcohol abuse are granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to active duty service and grants this claim. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD, remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to March 30, 2016 did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms were within the scope of the current 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD with alcohol dependence. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated in light of any new evidence.