PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and granted it.,Service connection is denied for heart disease, as there is no current diagnosis of a heart disability during the pendency of this appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive features and alcohol dependence is currently rated at 70 percent, effective November 18, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU from November 18, 2011 to June 20, 2014.,PTSD alone prevents the Veteran from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least 2000.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for PTSD. As a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), has been granted. His herpes simplex and dermatitis have also been rated at the 10% level.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining pertinent records from SSA and VA treatment providers.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for TDIU as of May 28, 2010. The appeals for service connection for residuals of scorpion sting poisoning; higher initial ratings for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss; and an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and chloracne of the back and right leg are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, migraine headaches, and TBI were denied. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's conditions warranted a higher rating at any point during the period on appeal.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for PTSD, which was granted in March 2010. The case has been remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and adjudicate the claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating effective January 30, 2008. The Board found that his symptoms prior to May 29, 2014 did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as his claim for service connection for stroke (claimed as cerebral vascular accident), due to lack of timely notice of disagreement. The Board also found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including his depressive disorder and anxiety. The examiner should determine whether there is any relationship between the current disorders and any verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating prior to September 25, 2013. As of that date, the Veteran is rated at 100 percent for his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his employment history and current job status indicate he is capable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a nexus between his current conditions and his time in service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not significantly worsened to warrant a higher rating, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to January 22, 2010 resulted in reduced reliability and productivity. After January 22, 2010, his symptoms caused deficiencies in most areas of work and social life.

The Board found no in-service stressor sufficient to establish PTSD and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow such employment due to his age and the nature of his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service and therefore, there is no basis upon which to establish service connection for PTSD.