PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment since 2003, but the remand is needed to clarify when these symptoms began and when they caused total impairment.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected PTSD and Parkinson’s disease did not contribute substantially or materially to his death by stroke. The Board also found no evidence linking herbicide exposure to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to August 5, 2016. Beginning on August 5, 2016, the rating was increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, mood disorder, and polysubstance abuse disorder, is rated at 70 percent. This rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are found to be related to their service in Somalia. Service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding no credible supporting evidence that any claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and a psychotic disorder. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to January 22, 2007, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and difficulty establishing effective relationships. The Board granted a 50% evaluation for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and medical opinions regarding the service connection of PTSD, including its secondary relationship to headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of PTSD and Epileptic Seizure Disorder. The decision also denied a compensable rating prior to March 9, 2016, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to August 5, 2016 and increased to 70 percent from that date. The Board denied the claim for increases in ratings due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the medical evidence does not support a finding that his service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, an extraschedular rating for migraine headaches, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand also includes requests for additional VA treatment records and a PTSD examination.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a previous denial of service connection for PTSD and the grant of service connection for depressive disorder was granted. The Board found new and material evidence supporting the reopening of the PTSD claim, but denied both PTSD and depressive disorder as not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and Adjustment Disorder. The decision is pending further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression did not render him unemployable prior to July 21, 2015. From October 20, 2015, his service-connected tinnitus and right ear hearing loss also did not render him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records.