PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher disability rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from May 28, 2009. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since the award of service connection.

The Board has decided the claim is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional development, including a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, panic attacks, and agoraphobia are productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total social and occupational impairment. The Veteran is granted a 70 percent evaluation for these conditions.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking an effective date prior to May 13, 2018 for the grant of a 70% rating for PTSD. The Board has determined that additional evidence related to counseling treatment records from June 2017 needs to be obtained before making a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 100% to 70%, effective June 1, 2018. The Board has restored the 100% rating for PTSD as of June 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been granted.,The Board has remanded the issue of assigning a disability rating greater than 70 percent prior to August 14, 2018 for other specified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder with PTSD and unspecified neurocognitive disorder.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from May 2014. The Board also granted TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent prior to March 28, 2019. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

For the appeal period prior to February 15, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.,For the appeal period after February 15, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD caused total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to worsening symptoms of his service-connected PTSD and the recent grant of service connection for asbestosis. A VA examination is needed to assess the impact on employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and referring the case to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occasional decrease in occupational and social impairment with symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, disturbances of motivation and mood, irritability, and chronic sleep impairment. The Board found a 30 percent rating adequately compensates the Veteran for his service-connected PTSD prior to May 22, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from her VA examiner regarding whether her diagnosed major depressive disorder is related to her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was found to have caused occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent for certain periods. The appeal is remanded due to the need for further development regarding service connection for a skin disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were initially denied in September 2013, but were later granted based on new evidence received after the initial decision. Effective dates of May 29, 2012 are assigned for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is related to his in-service stressors, including fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and there is credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service personal assault occurred.