PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease with coronary artery bypass, migraine headaches, hernia, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since August 8, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the possibility of missing VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD with insomnia and depression should be rated at 30 percent prior to July 23, 2015, and 50 percent thereafter. The earlier effective date of January 7, 2013, for TDIU is also remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to new and material evidence having been presented.,An initial rating in excess of 100 percent for COPD is denied. An effective date earlier than May 21, 2010 for the grant of service connection for COPD is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 21, 2010 for the grant of service connection for depression with agoraphobia and panic disorder symptoms associated with COPD is being remanded. The earliest possible effective date is May 21, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 10, 2012 for the grant of special monthly compensation at the housebound rate remains remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and back disorder were evaluated. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating for any of these conditions and remanded several issues including service connection for a left knee disorder, individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU), and service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder and left knee disorder, but has remanded all issues related to service connection due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The claim for a back disability was denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased rating for a left shoulder disability, service connection for PTSD, and entitlement to TDIU. The AOJ must obtain any outstanding treatment records pertaining to these conditions and provide the Veteran with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left arm scar prior to January 20, 2014 have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to January 20, 2014 is remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is rated at 70 percent prior to August 14, 2015. A TDIU is granted for the period prior to this date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is related to military sexual trauma (MST) and granted service connection. His Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is not separately service connected but will be considered in the evaluation of his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work-like setting). The Board granted an evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 29, 2011. However, the Board found that the earliest date of claim should be December 28, 2007, and thus changed the effective date to this earlier date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, stating that his service-connected disabilities alone were not sufficient to cause unemployability in the period of one year before the date of claim.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to his non-service connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, should be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD and hypertension, secondary to PTSD, were granted effective June 17, 2011. The initial disability ratings for both conditions are 70 percent.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, but remanded the issue of a respiratory disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the respiratory disability issue.