PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's September 20, 2010, substantive appeal was timely and that he is entitled to an effective date of August 19, 2008, for his service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an increased rating of PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not result in total occupational and social impairment prior to September 9, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and CAD. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted for the period from November 4, 2010 to November 19, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus and the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral leg numbness have been withdrawn.,PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411. The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, flattened affect, circumstantial speech, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective relationships.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of gunshot wound to the right shoulder are currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5303.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his adjustment disorder and sleep apnea.

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

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the appeal period began, and there is no evidence of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Veteran continues to work and enjoys his job.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms before November 1, 2016, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. After November 1, 2016, the symptoms manifested as deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since March 31, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating and denied both his claim for an increased rating and his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being reviewed with a view towards determining if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since December 17, 2013. The Board finds that the symptoms of depression and anxiety have caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for PTSD, maintaining that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU was also addressed but is remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increases in the ratings for PTSD and dyshidrotic eczema of the hands and feet. The Board has no further jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess his employment potential due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral knee disabilities combine to preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, which the Board finds is due to his unemployability caused by these conditions. The Board grants TDIU based on this finding.