PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board denied the reduction of ratings for right and left knee disabilities from 10% to noncompensable, finding that there was no evidence of improvement warranting such a reduction.,The Veteran's PTSD disability is rated at 30%, effective May 12, 2014. The remaining issues related to knees and thoracic spine are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, indicating significant occupational and social impairment. His IBS with GERD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting moderate symptoms.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is manifested by total social and occupational impairment, warranting a disability rating of 100 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of psychiatric disorders other than PTSD and TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder have resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency, but not to the extent warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of PTSD, and the Board is dismissing this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic neuropathy and PTSD, are found to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors did not occur and therefore denied service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The evidence does not show significant impairment in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's death was not caused or hastened by any service-connected disability, including PTSD. The underlying cause of his death was diverticulum disease, which is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, stress, depression, sleep disorder, nightmares, and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral foot tendonitis has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for Bipolar Disorder, finding that it was incurred in service. However, the claim of service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression is denied as there is no link between the current symptoms and an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and hypertension is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 28, 2002. The Board finds that the criteria for a 100 percent rating are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle direct disbursement of his VA benefits due to dementia and cognitive impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diverticulitis, asthma, COPD, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, stroke, bowel cancer, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hernia, sleep apnea, and nerve damage. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse is currently rated at 70 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not cause total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. A supplemental VA medical opinion is also needed to determine if the Veteran has a current psychiatric disorder distinct from PTSD that is medically linked to her symptoms during active service.