PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, tinnitus, PTSD, and left knee disability. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by symptoms such as panic attacks, impaired memory and abstract thinking, severe disturbances of motivation and mood. The Board finds that a rating of 50 percent, but no more, meets the criteria for his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to July 2012, which is the maximum rating available under the criteria for PTSD. The Board found that his symptoms warranted this rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and PTSD, as well as TDIU prior to October 21, 2010, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for hearing loss or a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to October 21, 2010.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss. The appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% effective May 5, 2009. The decision also granted a TDIU effective the same date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 12, 2010. The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD and also granted a TDIU effective July 7, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left hip strain, and tinnitus, effectively preclude her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also denied entitlement to TDIU as there was no evidence showing that the Veteran could not secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment due solely to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was granted at 50 percent prior to February 7, 2013. From July 1, 2013 to June 4, 2014, the rating was increased to 70 percent. After that date, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and occasional sleep impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for vitiligo and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to incomplete records and lack of medical opinions. The Veteran must be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim and found new evidence sufficient to establish a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection due to lack of a current disability.

The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is remanded. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for PTSD was denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his hearing loss, as his audiometric results were within non-compensable limits. For PTSD, there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records, thus denying the claim.

The appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD is dismissed because the March 2011 Board decision, which denied a rating in excess of 50 percent, became final.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating, with no increase in rating sought or warranted.,Low back disability receives a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is dismissed. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded to the AOJ.