PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for coronary artery disease and PTSD are dismissed as a matter of law. The Board finds that these matters must be dismissed because the Veteran did not timely perfect an appeal of the original rating decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The appeal was dismissed as untimely due to failure to timely file a substantive appeal within 60 days of receiving the Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of a claimed stressor and an updated VA psychiatric examination to determine whether the Veteran has had an acquired psychiatric disorder at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is now entitled to an increased rating of 30 percent for his left knee disability with instability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, but the case is REMANDED to obtain a new VA examination to address whether any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge from service was a bar to VA benefits due to his conviction by general court martial, and determined he was not insane at the time of his offenses. The appellant's PTSD is considered a direct service connection.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, which he claims is related to his active duty service in Okinawa, Japan. The Board found credible and consistent testimony regarding the stressor events and diagnosed PTSD based on these events.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum VA opinion addressing the impact of his service-connected PTSD on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 18, 2005 for service connection of PTSD has been granted. The initial rating in excess of 30 percent and TDIU claims are also granted.

The Veteran's current PTSD is determined to be linked to his military service and the claim will be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD with panic disorder and sleeping disorder is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective September 14, 2009. The Board also granted a TDIU for the period from July 12, 2007 to December 31, 2010.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and found that the issue of TDIU has been reasonably raised by the record.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since July 26, 2017. The rating is based on the current level of impairment due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, which is considered a direct service connection as it was not linked to any specific exposure or presumption.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have improved since October 17, 2016, warranting a higher rating of 50 percent. His chronic migraine headaches remain at 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the initial grant of service connection in February 2012. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating, but granted TDIU effective from November 15, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective January 21, 2010. The Veteran is also found to meet criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.