PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his acquired psychiatric disorder and traumatic brain injury are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with schizophrenia was granted on March 19, 2018. The Board denied an earlier effective date as the Veteran did not file a claim prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period from October 14, 2009 to June 26, 2012. The Board granted TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD prior to February 7, 2012 and from that date was denied. The evidence did not show the severity of impairment required for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pending issue regarding the character of discharge during the Appellant's period of active duty from December 1968 to March 1972. The outcome of this issue could significantly impact the results of the remaining claims.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hearing loss make it impossible for him to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to August 13, 2018. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they did not cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted effective September 20, 2016. The earlier date of April 11, 1980, when the VA added a diagnostic code for PTSD to the Rating Schedule, is considered as the effective date due to the liberalizing law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and posttraumatic stress disorder were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service event, injury, or disease that could be linked to the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, which is claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, had its onset during his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, and she is also awarded a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and remanded the issue of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 12, 2013 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. However, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains pending and requires additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone renders him unemployable, qualifying for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disabilities were granted service connection, but his request for increased evaluations was denied. Service connection for bronchitis was remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 27, 2012 was rated as 50 percent disabling due to symptoms such as anxiety, depressed mood, and sleep impairment. The Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,From April 27, 2012 to March 16, 2015, the Veteran's PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling due to symptoms such as restricted affect, panic attacks more than once a week, and difficulty in establishing effective relationships. The Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for high blood pressure has been withdrawn.,Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and no evidence linking it to in-service stressors or any other injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for PVD is denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's history of smoking is also considered.,Service connection for a skin rash is denied as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to in-service events.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, visual disorder of the right eye, and visual disorder of the left eye as there is no credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors or that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially evaluated at a 30 percent rating prior to April 14, 2015. The evaluation was increased to 50 percent from April 15, 2015 to October 9, 2018 and to 100 percent as of October 10, 2018.,The appeal is remanded due to the need for further development or clarification regarding the issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in April 2019, and the RO had already granted service connection with a 70% rating effective from April 8, 2016.