PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and information from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of all claims related to physical or mental illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, related to service. The Veteran's dermatophytosis and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is due to a personal assault sustained during service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with major depression, finding that the award was not based in part on newly associated service personnel records.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected PTSD, which impacts his ability to interact and work with others, concentrate in an employment setting, have interest and motivation for employment activities, deal with stress, and make decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling, effective May 19, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. For TDIU, the Veteran has reported difficulty maintaining social and occupational relationships due to his PTSD symptoms but also indicated he can work with trusted partners and prefers working alone or in isolated locations. His overall functioning is considered greater than what would be expected with a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which reflects the severity of his symptoms as described by VA criteria. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer on an extraschedular basis, finding that his prostate cancer did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a proper examination and opinion regarding his claimed psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD causes reduced reliability and productivity in social and occupational functioning, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, finding that the claim was received on October 10, 2012 and no prior unadjudicated claims were found.

The Veteran's IBS has been productive of severe impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 30% disability rating effective July 28, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD has been shown to be productive of occupational impairment and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood due to symptoms not adequately contemplated by the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation. The Board finds this evidence more clinically characteristic of the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining unit history and incident reports from his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been productive of reduced reliability and productivity, thus the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial disability rating for his left inguinal hernia, repaired with scar. For PTSD prior to April 28, 2016, the Veteran meets the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating. From April 28, 2016, he does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted and rated at 30 percent effective July 23, 2008. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating prior to October 12, 2009, but from October 12, 2009, they warranted a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 29, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a 70 percent rating based on his symptoms of suicidal and homicidal ideation; depressive disorder; alcohol use disorder; anger and irritability, including physical and verbal altercations with former colleagues and strangers, and causing him to verbally abuse his spouse; sleep disturbances and chronic sleep impairment; nightmares; intrusive thoughts and flashbacks; guilt; avoidance of distressing memories, thoughts, feelings, and external reminders of his in-service stressors; avoidance of crowds; feelings of detachment and estrangement from others; flattened affect; difficulty concentrating; hypervigilance; exaggerated startle response; depressed mood; persistent inability to experience positive emotions; anxiety; panic attacks in large crowds and at social gatherings; tension; headaches when discussing in-service trauma; suspiciousness; difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships; difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances; impaired impulse control; lack of motivation to participate in activities; and reckless or self-destructive behavior.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and her nonservice-connected PTSD and GAD. The TDIU claim cannot be resolved without first reaching a determination as to the appropriate evaluation for the Veteran's depressive disorder.