PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, including determining if any pre-existing acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, but generally functioning satisfactorily. The criteria for higher ratings are not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine her current psychiatric diagnoses and their etiology.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, but it is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressors.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. However, it denied his claims for both reopening and for a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at a 30% rating, which is the maximum available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.,For his bilateral hearing loss from August 20, 2013 to October 16, 2017, he received a 10% evaluation. However, after this period, his hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also did not meet the requirements for TDIU prior to November 24, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder and PTSD, has been granted. The effective date of this grant is June 17, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU or SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds that his other service-connected conditions, taken together, do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case back to the AOJ for further development, including an extraschedular consideration for TDIU and issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding the increased rating claim. The Veteran's PTSD remains rated at 50 percent.

The Board finds that the reduction of the PTSD rating from 70% to 30% was proper based on improvement in symptoms. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as there is no evidence showing he is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service-connected PTSD, which is considered a direct service connection as it was not linked to any presumption or previously service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to December 2, 2009 and increased to 70 percent from April 19, 2016. The Board found that the evidence supported these ratings based on his symptoms of irritability or angry outbursts attendant with violence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for increased PTSD ratings and TDIU/DEA benefits was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating prior to June 15, 2016, and that he did not have pre-existing total service-connected disabilities or eligibility for DEA benefits prior to May 20, 2008.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's character of discharge does not preclude him from receiving service connection due to meeting the criteria for insanity during his period of service.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, suicidal ideation, and several psychiatric hospitalizations. The Board finds that the disability picture most nearly approximates a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since October 15, 2009. This rating is based on the reopening of his claim for service connection due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disability is rated at 50% and he can still secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.