PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The diagnoses of these conditions are based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical evidence supporting their etiology.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol abuse is not manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD at this time.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum rating available for this condition. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with the current 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a urology examination to determine if he has a penile deformity or abnormality as a result of his circumcision in service and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disability.

PTSD was manifested by symptoms causing occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood from May 28, 2012 to October 20, 2016.,PTSD was manifested by symptoms causing no more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the claim remains denied.,Service connection for a left hip condition is also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of PTSD, and the Board has dismissed the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and vocational rehabilitation records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is pending.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine and tension headaches. The Veteran's PTSD claim was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine his eligibility for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected conditions. The AOJ will also seek information from the Social Security Administration regarding any disability benefits awarded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active military service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or a neurological disorder, claimed as shaking hands.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran is diagnosed with PTSD, which he alleges was caused by an in-service assault during his period of ACDUTRA. The Board will schedule a VA examination to determine if this diagnosis is related to his military experience.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to September 22, 2013 and at 50 percent since then. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of mental health treatment provided to the Veteran in 1983 and providing a medical opinion on whether bipolar disorder is causally connected to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of sufficiently severe occupational and social impairment to warrant a 70 percent rating, and has rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status was denied as her service-connected disabilities did not result in such needs.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with an evaluation of 50 percent effective August 23, 2012. The left knee disorder issue remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether a TDIU is warranted on an extra-schedular basis, as well as adjudication of the SMC claim. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and back disability are significant factors in his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted effective July 12, 2016.