PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to May 20, 2015.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including contusion of the right hand, hypertension, headaches, bilateral foot disorder, left hand disorder, sleep apnea, herpes, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and MDD with psychotic features, have caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to November 5, 2016. The Board found that a rating in excess of 50 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), and bilateral eye disability (photophobia) are all related to her service-connected migraines.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent disabling since August 4, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 7, 2017. The symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder, is related to his service. The claim for insomnia was not granted as secondary to a service-connected disability. Hypertension was not granted as incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD and thus entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for orthopedic residuals of a right forearm crush injury with tendinitis was denied. The current rating is 10 percent, and no effective date is provided.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his combined rating of 80% due to service-connected disabilities meets the threshold requirements for a TDIU. Additional development is needed to assess the functional impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and MDD, as well as her secondary service connection claims for fibromyalgia, diabetes mellitus type II, and sleep apnea. The evidence did not establish a nexus to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and headaches, finding that his current conditions are not related to service. The PTSD with bipolar disorder claim is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, an anxiety disorder other than PTSD, a depressive disorder, and a substance-abuse disorder. The evidence submitted since the December 1996 rating decision relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's pre-service hospitalization and his military personnel file. The VA will also need to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is service connected and rated at 70%.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, and therefore entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in social and occupational impairment, with deficiencies in most areas. The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD.