PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting TDIU for the period from May 18, 2011 through September 20, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, migraine headaches, and left knee disability have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and panic disorder was rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that this did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms. The diabetes with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also rated, but no ratings were granted as they did not meet the required schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for major depression and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic sleep disorder and therefore, service connection for a sleep disorder is denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of erectile dysfunction due to or related to his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his coronary artery disease with ischemic heart disease, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and panic disorder without agoraphobia have been rated based on their individual effects, with a staged rating of 50 percent since February 14, 2017. The TDIU claim is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is at least as likely as not related to service, including his deployment in Iraq.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and Crohn's disease with GERD were denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss since September 29, 2009.

The Veteran is granted a 100% rating for PTSD from November 17, 2011 to March 8, 2012. For the period prior to November 17, 2011, he is entitled to a 50% rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, on a schedular basis. The Board also found that the criteria for an extraschedular rating were not met.

The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU rating had been reasonably raised by the record and thus, should be adjudicated as part of the initial rating claim for PTSD. The case is now being remanded due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has ordered additional development to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded due to a need for another medical opinion and consideration of arguments regarding potential service connection based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of a TBI during the appeal period and denied service connection for PTSD with a history of adjustment disorder, major depression and alcoholism. The Veteran's headache syndrome was also denied as there were no characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's PTSD and OSA were found to meet the schedular criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to July 27, 2015. The TDIU was also granted. However, service connection for OSA is not addressed as it is considered 'unknown' due to lack of information.