PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The issues remain on appeal.

The Veteran's separation pay was withheld from his VA disability compensation due to the laws and regulations that prohibit such withholding for involuntary separation or SSA withholdings.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of hypertension, erectile dysfunction, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension, heart disability, and PTSD is granted. However, the effective date of service connection for PTSD cannot be earlier than May 28, 1985.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to July 24, 2013 on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for PFB and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess current symptoms and their impact on his ability to function.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran's PTSD and/or posttraumatic neuralgia contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at 70 percent from September 24, 2002 to September 4, 2013. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to November 13, 2008 was rated at 50 percent. Since then, the rating has been denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition related to an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip arthralgia with arthritic changes is denied due to lack of flexion limited to 30 degrees or more.

The Veteran is granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD prior to September 26, 2017, based on symptoms such as anger, compulsive behaviors, mood swings, depression, chronic sleep impairment, irritability, and conflicts with family members. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits, other than health care under Chapter 17, Title 38, United States Code due to his willful and persistent misconduct.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hypertension make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, so he is granted TDIU.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined by a different examiner and requested an opinion on whether his diagnosed conditions are related to his military service or any in-service event, including witnessed enemy killings at the perimeter, subduing fellow service members, encountering snakes, and experiencing a military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to May 23, 2017, and a higher rating thereafter has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been dismissed as the requested rating was granted and accepted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 3, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since August 9, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate those required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since December 16, 2010, due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.