PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's disability ratings for Right Shoulder Strain and Left Shoulder Strain were restored to 10 percent, effective May 11, 2012. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability).

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is granted a 100 percent rating, effective May 7, 2018. The issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus, ischemic heart disease, and neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and lack of examination. The Veteran must authorize a VA psychiatrist or psychologist to clarify his PTSD diagnosis, and he needs to be examined by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist to determine if his psychiatric disability is related to service. Additionally, the Veteran needs to be examined by an appropriate examiner to determine if his sleeping problems are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The case will be returned after compliance with appellate procedures.

The claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of service connection for PTSD, anxiety and mood disorder, bipolar disorder, and depressive neurosis (major depressive disorder) remain pending. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 18, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they only caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's TBI disability rating was restored to 40 percent effective December 1, 2017. A total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted from August 13, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD from March 1, 1982 to October 5, 2005 is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, GERD, bilateral lower extremity varicose veins, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to January 5, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has determined that the appellant's income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for death pension benefits, and thus, her claim is denied. The cause of death appeal is remanded due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the relationship between service-connected conditions and the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent evaluation of PTSD and TDIU was denied as the symptoms did not warrant such ratings prior to June 25, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU beginning July 15, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed inservice stressor and the need for further development of the record.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 19, 2017 for a 100% disability rating for PTSD is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD symptoms prior to this date.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The disability is characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as hypervigilance, anxiety, depression, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation.,For TDIU, the Veteran meets the schedular threshold requirement with multiple service-connected disabilities. However, he was found to be capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment due to his education, special training, and previous work experience.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, due to new evidence provided by the Veteran's mental health provider. The Board also found that there is at least equipoise of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are causally related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected PTSD is denied. The Board has also remanded the cases for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from July 27, 2015 to September 3, 2015.